Ahmedabad, Feb 9 (.) Lungi Ngidi’s fiery spell set the tone as South Africa crushed Canada by 57 runs in the 9th Match of Group D at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, played at the Narendra Modi Stadium here on Monday.
The pacer’s 4 for 31 dismantled Canada’s top and middle order, triggering a collapse that no amount of resistance from Navneet Dhaliwal could reverse.
Electing to bat first, South Africa posted a commanding 213 for 4 in their 20 overs. Captain Aiden Markram led the charge with 59 off 32 balls, featuring 10 fours and a six, while Ryan Rickelton contributed 33 off 21.
David Miller added a rapid 39* including back-to-back sixes off Jaskaran Singh in the final over, and Tristan Stubbs finished with 34*, hammering a massive six off the last ball to propel South Africa past 210.
Key partnerships included Markram and Rickelton’s 56-run stand and Miller and Stubbs’ 75-run blitz in the final overs. Early wickets by Ansh Patel and Dewald Brevis’ dismissal had momentarily slowed the scoring, but South Africa’s late assault proved decisive. Extras contributed 17 runs, including 10 wides and three no-balls.
In reply, Canada managed 156 for 8. Navneet Dhaliwal top-scored with 64 off 49 balls, striking multiple boundaries and a six off Keshav Maharaj, but wickets fell regularly.
Early breakthroughs by Ngidi, including the dismissal of Dilpreet Bajwa and Yuvraj Samra, put Canada on the back foot. Marco Jansen (2 for 30) and Corbin Bosch (1 for 27) struck in the death overs, dismissing Saad Bin Zafar, Jaskaran Singh, and Dhaliwal in quick succession.
Bosch finished the match by trapping Kaleem Sana with a lofted drive over extra-cover for four, sealing South Africa’s comfortable victory.
The Proteas’ win highlighted a dominant allround performance. Ngidi’s early strikes, combined with Jansen and Bosch’s control in the final overs, alongside explosive batting from Markram, Miller, and Stubbs, underscored South Africa’s supremacy in both departments.
Match officials were Jayaraman Madanagopal and Nitin Menon (umpires), Sharfuddoula (third umpire), and Dave Gilbert (match referee).
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