Aiden Markram produced a captain’s knock to lead South Africa to a convincing nine-wicket victory over the West Indies in the first T20 International at Boland Park on Tuesday. The Proteas comfortably chased down a target of 174, finishing the match with 13 balls to spare and taking a 1–0 lead in the three-match series.
Markram Leads From the Front
South African skipper Aiden Markram was in sensational form, scoring a career-best 86 not out off just 47 balls. His innings included nine boundaries and three towering sixes, showcasing both timing and power. Markram controlled the chase from the start and ensured there was no pressure despite a competitive West Indian total.
Strong Opening Partnership Sets the Tone
Opening the innings in the absence of Quinton de Kock, Lhuan-dre Pretorius impressed with a fluent 44, forming a crucial 83-run opening partnership in just 47 balls with Markram. Pretorius, who is not part of South Africa’s upcoming T20 World Cup squad, made full use of the opportunity and gave the hosts a flying start.
After Pretorius’ dismissal, Ryan Rickelton joined Markram, and the pair added an unbeaten 93-run stand for the second wicket. Rickelton played a composed knock of 40 not out, ensuring South Africa crossed the line without further setbacks.
West Indies Fall Short Despite Hetmyer’s Effort
Earlier, the West Indies posted 173 for 7, a total that proved insufficient on a good batting surface. Shimron Hetmyer was the top scorer with 48 off 32 balls, but lacked support from the rest of the batting lineup. No other West Indies batter managed to cross the 30-run mark.
Stand-in captain Roston Chase admitted his side fell short, citing a lack of big partnerships and an ineffective powerplay performance with the ball.
“We had starts but no one went on to score 60 or 70. We were also poor with the ball in the powerplay,” Chase said after the match.
George Linde Shines With the Ball
South African all-rounder George Linde was named Player of the Match for his impactful bowling performance. The left-arm spinner picked up 3 wickets for 25 runs, sharing the new ball and delivering a tight final over. He dismissed both Shimron Hetmyer and Jason Holder in the last over, conceding only five runs.
Squad Depth Boosts South Africa’s Confidence
South Africa rested several key players, including Quinton de Kock, who had recently featured in the SA20 final. Despite the changes, captain Markram expressed confidence in the squad’s depth ahead of the T20 World Cup.
“There are a few quality players not here tonight. It’s taken a few years to build this depth, and it’s a great position to be in,” Markram said.
Final Preparation Before T20 World Cup
The three-match T20I series serves as final preparation for both teams ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place next month in India and Sri Lanka. With this dominant win, South Africa will look to seal the series early, while the West Indies will aim for a strong comeback in the next match.
