In a commanding display of all-round cricket, South Africa launched their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a resounding 57-run victory over Canada at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 9, 2026. The Proteas, runners-up in the previous edition, showcased their depth in batting and bowling, setting a high benchmark for the tournament. Canada, making a spirited effort despite the loss, highlighted individual brilliance but couldn’t match the experience of their opponents.
South Africa’s Explosive Batting Sets the Tone
Winning the toss might have seemed advantageous for Canada as they elected to field first, but South Africa quickly turned the tables. The Proteas raced to 65/0 in the Powerplay, laying a solid foundation. Captain Aiden Markram led from the front with a classy fifty, anchoring the innings amid some pressure from Canadian bowlers.
A brief fightback by Canada’s Ansh Patel, who claimed key wickets to leave South Africa at 138/4, threatened to curb the momentum. However, an unbeaten 75-run partnership between David Miller and Tristan Stubbs propelled the team to a formidable 213/4. The duo smashed 62 runs in the final five overs, with Stubbs notably hitting a mighty maximum that electrified the crowd. This collective batting effort underlined South Africa’s firepower, posting a total that Canada skipper Dilpreet Bajwa later admitted was 30-40 runs above par.
Canada’s Valiant Chase Falls Short
Chasing 214 under lights with dew factoring in, Canada’s top order crumbled early against South Africa’s pace attack. They were reduced to 50/4 by the end of the Powerplay, thanks to precision bowling from the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi. Navneet Dhaliwal provided a glimmer of hope with a fighting 64 off 49 balls, including seven fours and a six, showcasing sublime shot-making in a lone hand.
A 69-run stand with Harsh Thaker (33 off 29) briefly revived the innings, but Ngidi’s return spell broke the partnership. Canada eventually finished at 156/8, with late boundaries from Kaleem Sana unable to bridge the gap. The Proteas’ bowlers maintained discipline throughout, with Ngidi’s variations proving particularly effective on a skiddy surface influenced by dew.
Standout Performances
- Lungi Ngidi (South Africa): Player of the Match with 4/31 in four overs. His early strikes dismantled Canada’s top order, and he emphasized the team’s aggressive approach in post-match comments.
- Navneet Dhaliwal (Canada): Top-scored with 64, fighting valiantly against a world-class attack.
- Aiden Markram (South Africa): His fifty set the platform for the big total.
- Marco Jansen (South Africa): Claimed 2/30, providing crucial breakthroughs.
Full Scorecard
South Africa Innings: 213/4 (20 overs)
While detailed individual scores weren’t fully listed, key contributions included Markram’s fifty and the late blitz from Miller and Stubbs.
Canada Innings: 156/8 (20 overs)
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dilpreet Bajwa (c) | c de Kock b Ngidi | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Yuvraj Samra | c de Kock b Ngidi | 12 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 150.00 |
| Navneet Dhaliwal | c Stubbs b Bosch | 64 | 49 | 7 | 1 | 130.61 |
| Nicholas Kirton | c Rabada b Ngidi | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 133.33 |
| Shreyas Movva (wk) | b Rabada | 9 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 81.82 |
| Harsh Thaker | c Rabada b Ngidi | 33 | 29 | 2 | 2 | 113.79 |
| Saad Bin Zafar | c Bosch b Jansen | 11 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 91.67 |
| Jaskarandeep Singh | c Stubbs b Jansen | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Dilon Heyliger | not out | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Kaleem Sana | not out | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 166.67 |
Extras: 14 (2nb, 12w)
Fall of Wickets: 0-1 (0.1), 22-2 (2.3), 26-3 (3.0), 45-4 (5.4), 114-5 (14.2), 133-6 (17.1), 133-7 (17.2), 150-8 (19.1)
South Africa Bowling
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lungi Ngidi | 4 | 0 | 31 | 4 | 7.75 |
| Marco Jansen | 4 | 0 | 30 | 2 | 7.50 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 4 | 0 | 40 | 1 | 10.00 |
| Corbin Bosch | 4 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 6.75 |
| Keshav Maharaj | 4 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 7.00 |
Looking Ahead
This win earns South Africa two vital points and a healthy net run rate boost in Group A. For Canada, the match served as valuable experience against top-tier opposition, with positives like Dhaliwal’s knock to build on. As the tournament progresses, South Africa’s complete performance signals they are serious contenders once again. Stay tuned for more action from the T20 World Cup 2026!
