Canada won the toss and opted to send the 2024 runners-up in to bat on a good surface, a decision that initially looked brave as the Proteas’ top order laid a solid platform.

Captain Aiden Markram led from the front with a fluent 59 off 32 balls, striking ten fours and a six to set the tempo. 

He shared a 70-run opening stand in 6.5 overs with Quinton de Kock before the left-hander was bowled for 25 off 22 balls by Dilpreet Bajwa.

Aiden Markram. Photo: Cricinfo

Markram continued to dominate until he was dismissed with the score on 126/2 in the 12th over, having ensured South Africa were well on track for a big total.

Ryan Rickelton added impetus with a brisk 33, but South Africa briefly stumbled when Dewald Brevis fell for six, four balls after Rickelton’s dismissal, leaving the Proteas on 138/4. While there is plenty of excitement around Brevis’ ability, especially with the ball, the youngster will be eager to show greater maturity with the bat in the number four position.

Any momentum lost was quickly restored thanks to an unbeaten 75-run fifth-wicket partnership between David Miller and Tristan Stubbs. Miller finished on 39* off 23 balls, while Stubbs chipped in with a rapid 34* off 17, lifting South Africa to a formidable 213/4.

For Canada, Ansh Patel, playing in his first-ever T20 World Cup match, impressed with 3/31, while captain Bajwa claimed 1/40 in his four overs.

Canada’s run chase got off to the worst possible start when Bajwa edged behind to De Kock off the very first ball, courtesy of a sharp delivery from Lungi Ngidi.

Wickets continued to tumble, and although there were glimpses of resistance, no partnership ever truly threatened a famous upset. Canada were eventually restricted to 156/8, with Navneet Dhaliwal top-scoring with 64 off 49 balls, and Harsh Thaker contributing 33 off 29. 

Only Yuvraj (12) and Saad Bin Zafar (11) joined them in double figures.

Navneet Dhaliwal. Photo: Cricinfo

Ngidi was outstanding with the new ball, finishing with 4/31, earning him the Player of the Match award. Marco Jansen backed him up well with 2/30, while Corbin Bosch and Kagiso Rabada also chipped in with a wicket apiece.

Speaking after the match, Ngidi admitted the lack of information on Canada made things tricky.

“It was a bit difficult as we’ve never played them. We haven’t seen much of them. I managed to watch a few of their warm-up games and even looked at the 2024 World Cup.

Lungi Ngidi. Photo: Cricinfo

“So that was pretty much the information we had. Then it was about doing what you do best – swinging the ball in the power play, challenging them up front with the new ball and keeping it as simple as possible.

“It was very much trial and error against these guys because we haven’t seen much of them.”

There’s little time to celebrate for the Proteas, as their focus now shifts to the ever-dangerous Afghanistan, whom they face on Wednesday.

The match will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, with the first ball scheduled to be bowled at 07:30. 

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg