South Africa vs West Indies Highlights T20 World Cup 2021: SA beat WI by 8 wickets for first win

A comprehensive victory for the Proteas as Aiden Markram hits the winning runs! Markram also brought his half-century in the final over; the fastest fifty in this edition so far, coming in 25 deliveries.

The defending champions made a disappointing start to the campaign and it is only going worse for the Men in Maroon, as they are on the verge of conceding a second-successive loss. Their next three opponents are Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Australia, and a loss in any one of them can potentially knock them out. 

Windies will also need to win big, as their Net Run Rate suffered a big blow, thanks to a 55-run collapse against England.  

Rassie van der Dussen finally opens his arms for two successive fours off Dwayne Bravo, as the asking run-rate falls below 6. West Indies need wickets, and they need plenty of them.

SA 121/2 in 16 overs. Target: 144

This has been an excellent innings from Aiden Markram. While van der Dussen is dealing in singles, Markram continues to be on the offensive and is efficiently rotating the strike as well. 

SA 111/2 in 15 overs. Target: 144

Aiden Markram means business. Quick start from the right-hander as he races off to 21 off just 10 deliveries, slamming two sixes off Hayden Walsh and captain Pollard respectively. van der Dussen, meanwhile, hasn't shifted gears yet.

SA 98/2 in 13 overs. Target: 144

WHAT A CATCH! Shimron Hetmyer takes a brilliant catch at the midwicket boundary to remove danger-man Reeza Hendricks. The soft signal was not out but replays confirm that Hetmyer took a clean catch. An important wicket for the Windies as the partnership was beginning to threaten the ‘Men in Maroon’.

SA 61/2 in 9.2 overs. Target: 144

This is a fine partnership between Hendricks and van der Dussen, with the former taking an aggressive approach. SA reach the 50-run mark in the eighth over of the innings. West Indies need a breakthrough.

SA 55/1 in 8 overs. Target: 144

Reeza Hendricks leads the run-chase for South Africa after the side lost its captain in the first over of the innings. Rassie van der Dussen has made a slow start, largely resorting to giving strike to the hard-hitting Hendricks who has reached 30 off 19 deliveries.

SA 42/1 in 6 overs. Target: 144

The right-hander is seemingly undeterred with the early blow as he takes on Akeal Hosein, slamming a six and a four on the first-two deliveries of the third over.

A brilliant direct hit from Andre Russell sends South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma packing in the first over of the innings! He departs on 2.

SA 4/1 in 1 over (Target: 144)

The players return to the field for the run-chase! Reeza Hendricks has big shoes to fill as he replaces Quinton de Kock to pair with captain Temba Bavuma. 

South Africa would be the happier side at the mid-innings break after they restricted the West Indies to 143/8 in 20 overs. After Evin Lewis' quickfire fifty, it was a downfall for the side as they were never able to capitalise on the left-hander's knock.

Dwaine Pretorius gets the big wicket of Kieron Pollard before removing Hayden Walsh in the next ball of the final over. Another batting collapse for the West Indies – this one will hurt them more because Evin Lewis had set the platform for the side with his half-century.

WI 137/8 in 19.3 overs

Anrich Nortje strikes! Andre Russell attempts to smack a yorker-length delivery towards the off-side but completely misses the line. He departs on 5.

WI 132/5 in 18.2 overs

Chris Gayle departs for run-a-ball 12. He nicks one to Klaasen. Gayle had no option but to go hard as the innings approached the business end. An off-cutter from Pretorious induces outside-edge from Gayle, as Klaasen takes a good catch behind the stumps.

WI 121/4 in 17.1 overs

The two highest run-scorers in T20 history, Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard on the crease for the Windies. The duo will be aiming to steer the side away from the quick setbacks, while also upping the ante with six overs remaining.

WI 93/3 in 14 overs

After a horrid 35-ball 16 innings, Simmons is finally dismissed by Kagiso Rabada. West Indies might as well be treating this dismissal as a blessing in disguise as Lewis and Pooran both departed due to desperate attempts to accelerate the run rate.

WI 89/3 in 13.2 overs

This innings may as well describe Nicholas Pooran's career so far. He made a brilliant start, slamming two successive boundaries against Tabraiz Shamsi but just as he looked set for a big knock, he throws it away. He is caught at long-off as Maharaj picks his second wicket.

WI 87/2 in 12.2 overs  

Evin Lewis is dismissed! This looked inevitable after Simmons' extended struggles at the other end. In a bid to accelerate the run-rate, Lewis takes the aerial route against Rabada with a pull towards deep mid-wicket but doesn't get his timing right. He's caught by Kagiso Rabada as a fine knock comes to an end.

He departs on 56. WI 74/1 in 11 overs

Shortly after West Indies reached 50, Lewis reached his half-century, which speaks volume about his contribution to the Windies innings so far. The left-hander slams his 10th T20I fifty as West Indies reach 65 at the halfway mark of the innings. 

West Indies are yet to lose a wicket but Lendl Simmons' struggles may concern the dugout now. While Evin Lewis' big-hitting continues on the other end, Simmons is finding it hard to rotate the strike, let alone finding boundaries.

WI 56/0 in 9 overs

The West Indies opener is yet to find a boundary, reeling at 8 off 21 deliveries. It has largely been a Lewis show so far as Simmons is struggling to make a connection.

WI 47/0 in 8 overs

First 3 overs: 6 runs

Next 3 overs: 37 runs

Evin Lewis ups the ante for the West Indies as the ‘Men in Maroon’ are off to a brisk start against South Africa.

WI 43/0 in 6 overs

Evin Lewis finally opens his arms, scoring two successive boundaries against Kagiso Rabada before taking on Markram, hitting two big sixes on the leg-side before pulling one between the long-on and midwicket region for four.

WI 36/0 in 5 overs

Only six runs from the first three overs, including a maiden from Aiden Markram! Tight lengths from the South African bowlers so far as they continue to build pressure on the Windies openers.

WI 6/0 in 3 overs