South Africa vs West Indies Highlights, ICC T20 Cricket World Cup 2021: Aiden Markram Fifty Drives SA to 8-Wicket Win Over WI

Quite an easy win in the end for South Africa. 144 was always under par and that was pretty much evident. The Proteas did lose Bavuma early but Reeza Hendricks and Rassie played really well to not only get the chase back on track but take South Africa on top. The two added above 50 before Reeza fell after a good knock. Markram though did not let the momentum slip away as he too played a brilliant knock and he along with Rassie have given their side their first win of the tournament. The Windies managed to take an early wicket but then could not keep the pressure going. They did not bowl all that bad but did give away a few loose ones and a few extras when not needed. The bowlers though can’t be blamed as they just did not have enough runs on the board on a wicket which got easier to bat on. Earlier in the day, after electing to bowl, the South African bowlers did really well to restrict Windies to an average total which was chased down by them with ease.

And that’s that – Aiden Markram takes SA home with a six off Dre Russ and then a single to seal the deal. Markram finishes with 51 off 26 balls. A clinical run-chase by Markram. So SA bounce back after a close defeat to Australia, while WI slump to their second straight defeat.

Just 11 runs needed for three overs. SA do not need to do anything out of the ordinary here. Dwayne Bravo’s over yields 4 runs. Aiden Markram 44(24); Rassie van der Dussen 43(51). SA 137/2 in 18

Top quality innings this from Aiden Markram here. Digs out a wide yorker and despite Shimron Hetmyer’s ‘ magnificent attempt in the deep, he cannot prevent the boundary. Markram adds one more boundary, this time slices one over cover. He moves to 42 off 22.  SA 133/2 in 17 

RVDD with back-to-back boundaries off Dwayne Bravo. The game is slipping for the defending champions. Two losses on the card it seems for the Windies side. Not the position they would have likes to be in. SA 121/2 in 15 

Ravi Rampaul back in to the attack and Aiden Markram launches one to the orbit. Slower one and he was waiting for it. Pulls it over midwicket and he puts SA further ahead. 11 runs off it. SA 111/2 in 15

Dwayne Bravo back into the attack. Tidy over just two off it. One leg-bye and one single. SA in no hurry. Aiden Markram 23 (12),  Rassie van der Dussen 28(39). SA 100/2 in 14

South Africa motoring along really well. Rob Van Dam Dussen , Rassie Van Der Dussen get a boundary. That has been SA’s strategy. One boundary per over and they are cantering home well. RVDD too has find his groove. SA 98/2 in 13

Kieron Pollard brings himself on in search of the wicket. That 16-run over from SA, pretty much puts them on course. Time for WI to hit the panic button and try and figure a way to rein in the match. But, Pollard’s military medium yields 9 runs. SA 91/2 in 11

Hayden Walsh Jr with an expensive over. 16 runs off it. He started off with a wide, that yielded two runs followed by three twos and a couple of singles. Aiden Markram then launched one over long-on for a six.

And we have some drama! Well-set Reeza Hendricks takes on Akeal Hosein with a pull short, but does not get the elevation. Caught in the deep by Shimron Hetmyer. The catch went upstairs for review with on-field umpire’s soft signal being not out, but replays confirm it was a clean catch by the DC player. Big blow for SA. 6 runs off the over as well. SA 66/2 in 10 

Hayden Walsh Jr back for his second over. 5 runs off it. He has been tidy. Next over we could see some fireworks. SA 60/1 in 9 

Dwayne Bravo in to the attack. A bit too early you would think. But, Kieron Pollard has gone to his money bowler in search of a wicket here. 50 up for SA in the over also. Bravo pitches one up and Hendricks waits and over cover he gets on going. Through the line shot and 50-run stand between Rassie Van Der Dussen (18*) and Hendricks (32*). The run-chase is going smoothly so far for the Proteas. SA 55/1 in 8 

First look at leggie Hayden Walsh Jr in this match and lovely drift he is getting in the ring of fire. Good control also. Just five runs off it with a wide. SA 47/1 in 7 

Akeal Hosein with this third over, the final over of the powerplay. SA have managed to maintain a healthy run rate without taking the aggressive route. Tidy over, 6 runs off it. SA 42/1 in 6 

Andre Russell comes on to bowl. Well, we have not seen it for a while. Should be interesting. Starts off reasonably well. 132 kmph mark. That’s good pace and he has found his mark as well.  Hendriks though is looking in sublime touch. He picks the short ball, a slower one and is in position pull it towards mid-wicket with ease. Four for his. He moves to 28 off 16. Rassie Van Der Dussen is struggling at the other ned,. He is 6 off 11. SA 36/1 in 5

Willy veteran is trumped by Reeza Hendricks as he stands his ground and finds the space between backward point and third man to take a four, but Rampaul tidies it up in the backend. Nine runs off it. SA 26/1 in 4

Reeza Hendricks gets his eye in and stand and deliver stuff, with panache, darted around middle and Hendricks has the measure of it. Thumps over long-on. Follows it up with pull towards backward square leg. Hosein though comes back well and finishes the over well. Three dots. 11 runs off the over. SA 17/1 in 3

Ravi Rampaul, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack and Rassie van der Dussen, right-handed bat, comes to the crease. Tidy over from the veteran. Just two runs off it.  SA 6/1 in 2

So it is is the very elegant looking Reeza Hendricks out to open with the skipper Temba Bavuma in QDK’s absence. Akeal Hosein, the left-arm orthodox, to start the proceedings and after a rather uneventful first five overs, Dre Russ with a thing of beauty. One-handed pick-up and he finds the target from mid-off. Temba Bavuma has to depart. Super stuff from Russell. Much needed early breakthrough for WI. SA 4/1 in 1