South Africa came out all guns blazing in the powerplay after posting 213/4 on the board. They were on the money and picked regular wickets at intervals to put misery on Canada totally. Lungi Ngidi was the star as he picked up 3 wickets while Kagiso Rabada picked up the other wicket. Canada played some good shots but that was few and far between as they got bamboozled in powerplay.
Lungi Ngidi runs through Canada batting.Â
Chasing 214 for the win, Dilpreet Bajwa the captain opened the batting with Yuvraj Samra. Lungi Ngidi had ball in hand for South Africa. Ngidi struck first ball as he removed Bajwa for a golden duck. Ngidi from over the wicket bowled short of a good length outside the off-stump with a hint of away shape. Bajwa looked to leave it alone but got a faint edge in the process as the keeper takes an easy catch.
Navneet Dhaliwal came to the crease next. Dhalimal managed to hit a boundary by smashing it over point for a boundary. Marco Jansen came onto bowl from the other end. He gifted 5 wides to the batting side before Yuvraj used his wrists and flicks it over mid-on for a boundary. Yuvraj threw his hands at it as the ball was sliced away over backward point region for a boundary.
Ngidi continued as Yuvraj leaned into the drive through covers for a boundary. But Ngidi had the last laugh as he removed Samra for 12 off 8 balls with 3 fours to his name. Ngidi bowled a fuller than good length delivery shaping away just outside the off-stump a wobble seam delivery. Samra followed the line of the ball and got a thick outside edge with Quinton taking a regulation catch. Nicholas Kirton came out to bat next.
Kirton got off the mark with a boundary but then had the last laugh as he dismissed Kirton for 4 off 3 balls with a boundary to his name. Ngidi bowled a short of a length angling across outside the off-stump. Kirton stayed inside the crease and looked to hoick across the line but was hurried by the pace and got hit high on the bat as the ball lobbed towards mid-on. Rabada dived forward and took the good low catch. Shreyas Movva came out to bat next.
Kagiso Rabada removed Movva.Â
Kagiso Rabada came into the attack now as Dhaliwal welcomed him with an excellent punch to the deep backward point fence. Dhaliwal hit another boundary by slicing it away through the point region for a boundary and a most welcome one. Ngidi continued as Movva took him on by hitting back-to-back boundaries first through deep fine leg and then through deep third man.
Rabada continued to bowl the last over of the powerplay. Here, he removed Movva for 9 off 11 balls with 2 fours to his name. The score was 45 when the fourth wicket fell. Rabada bowled a fuller length delivery swinging on the off and middle stump line. Movva flicked at it but got the thick leading outside edge as the ball went to uproot the off-stump from the groove. Rabada got his first scalp and Canada were in real trouble in the powerplay.
Drinks was taken after which Harsh Thaker came out to bat next. Thaker managed to hit a boundary away by driving it back past diving backward point for a boundary. Canada got to their 50 in 6 overs but lost 4 wickets at the end of the powerplay.
What Lies Ahead.Â
Canada are up against it at 50/4 in 6 overs of powerplay chasing 219 for the win. They will have to bat out of their skins to make a match out of this contest. For now, it is all South Africa and they will want to make sure they win and they win well. Can Pakistan create a flutter in the squad. Let’s see how this chase pans out for India. An interesting match is ahead of us.
Also Read: ICC T20 WC 2026: Aiden Markram’s Explosive Half-Century Powers South Africa To 213/4