T20 World Cup: Aiden Markram scores 50 to lead South Africa to 57-run win over Canada | Cricket News
Aiden Markram The Proteas led South Africa to a brilliant half-century as they beat Canada by 57 runs in their opening Group D match of the T20 World Cup on Monday. Markram, who batted first, set the tone for the total with a quick knock of 59 off 32 balls, including 10 fours and a six. Quinton de Kock (25), Ryan Rickton (33), Tristan Stubbs (34) and David Miller (39) also made important contributions as South Africa posted 213 runs for 4 in 20 overs.
Canada was chasing 214 but never really got going, finishing with 156 for eight. Navneet Dhaliwal shot a heroic 64 while Harsh Thaker smashed 33, but the asking price proved to be too high for the visitors. The game started disastrously for Canada, with captain Dilpreet Bajwa grabbing the first ball. Good luck (4/31) To De Kock. Dhaliwal and Yuvraj Samra briefly steadied the team with 17 runs in two overs before Ngidi struck out Samra and Nicholas Kirton twice in the third over as Canada fell to 26 for three. A 69-run partnership between Dhaliwal and Thaker brought some resistance but Marco Jansen (2/30) struck in the 18th over to seal the win. South Africa’s game was explosive from the start. Markram struck Dhillon Helig in the second over and de Kock followed with two fours off Saad bin Zafar as the duo put on 70 runs for the opening wicket in just 6.5 overs. De Kock was eventually dismissed by Bajwa and Markram reached his 50 in the 10th over before losing to Ansh Patel at long-on. Rickton followed, giving another wicket to Patel, while Devalde Breves was caught by Cotton to add to Canada’s troubles. In the final overs, Miller and Stubbs accelerated brilliantly to create an unbeaten partnership of 75 off just 37 balls, with Miller clearing the ropes at will. For Canada, Ansh Patel was the standout bowler with figures of 3/31.
