वेस्ट इंडीज vs दक्षिण अफ्रीका, सुपर 8 - मैच 7, नरेंद्र मोदी स्टेडियम, अहमदाबाद, 26 February 2026 - कमेंट्री

FOUR! Fittingly, it is Aiden Markram with the winning runs. South Africa win by 9 wickets. Holder errs in length. This is a low full toss from around the wicket, on middle. Markram presents a high elbow and drills it back at the bowler. Holder sticks out his left hand, but can only get his fingertips on it. The umpire is quick to get out of the firing line, and the ball races away for a boundary. 

NO BALL! Over-waist high full toss, outside off. Ryan Rickelton slaps it along the ground behind point. Matthew Forde sprints and tumbles to his left in the deep to prevent the boundary. Two runs taken. Free Hit coming up.

Well bowled! Romario Shepherd gets the yorker in and pushes it away from the left-hander, outside off. Ryan Rickelton fails to dig it out.

FOUR! Ryan Rickelton gets it away this time! Shepherd misses his yorker by a small margin. Low full toss, near the tramline outside off. Rickelton reaches out and gets low to slam it through the vacant point region for a four. South Africa need 7 more runs.

Low full toss, at the sticks, firmly driven back at the bowler by Rickelton. The ball goes past the bowler and hits the stumps at the other end before deflecting away to mid-wicket. Just a single.

Wide! At 129.6 kph, slips in a full ball, down leg. Markram walks inside the line but misses out on the glance. Romario Shepherd is surprised by the wide call as he believes that had Aiden been in his usual standing position, the ball would have hit his pads.

Romario Shepherd spots the batter backing away and he follows him with a yorker. Markram jams it out to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Low full toss, on off, Rickelton punches it with a straight bat and the ball goes on to hit the stumps at the other end. It deflects to mid off, where the fielder dives to his left and cuts it off.

Angling across, in the blockhole outside off, Rickelton gets his bat down but does not make any contact.

Nails the yorker, on middle. Markram drops his bat down on the ball and jams it out in the vacant mid-wicket region. He comes charging back for the second run.

Low full toss, on middle, Aiden checks his drive to long on for a run.

A well-executed yorker from around the wicket, on middle and leg. Rickelton digs it out to long on and picks up a single.

Pushed across off, low full toss. Markram gets low and reaches out to drive it to the right of the deep cover fielder for a couple of runs.

Right in the blockhole, on middle. Markram gets the front leg out of the way and squeezes it through mid-wicket. They cross.

Dug in short, over off. Rickelton pivots on the back foot and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for another single. 14 more needed for South Africa.

SIX! This is certainly a captain's inning from Aiden Markram! Low full toss, on off, Aiden Markram clears his front foot and smokes it downtown for a flat six.

SIX! Markram is in a hurry to finish this off! Short of a length from Chase, on middle. Aiden Markram rocks back, waits a bit and heaves it with all his strength over the deep mid-wicket fence for six more runs.

Shorter and on middle. Markram nudges it to deep mid-wicket and crosses over.

SIX! HUMONGOUS! Roston Chase pitches it fuller, on middle, turning it a bit away. Ryan Rickelton gets down on one knee and slog sweeps it over deep mid-wicket for the third six of the over.

Short, outside off, Ryan Rickelton punches it to short cover.

Fuller, angling in, on middle. Ryan Rickelton pushes it back to the bowler. 19 runs from the over!

Fuller, on off, Ryan Rickelton drives it to the right of the cover fielder. He moves to his right but fails to gather the ball. It hits the knee of the fielder and rolls toward mid off. The batter gets across to take a comfortable single.

Short and outside off, Aiden Markram frees his arms to slap it to the right of the deep backward point fielder for one run.

FOUR! Placement rather than power! Shamar Joseph bashes the hard length, on middle. Ryan Rickelton rides the bounce and pulls it down and pierces the gap between the deep square leg and deep fine leg fielders. Romario Shepherd is limping, and he cannot get to the ball quickly enough.

On a hard length, outside off, Ryan Rickelton tries to cut it but gets the connection from the inner part of his bat to point.

Fuller, on off, Ryan Rickelton eases it to long on for a single.

Pitches it up, does Shamar Joseph, around the pads. Aiden Markram rolls his wrists to flick it through square leg to get a single.

Fuller, on off. Ryan Rickelton makes room and punches it to long off for a single.

Pitches it up, does Chase, on off. Aiden Markram crouches a bit and punches it to deep cover for a single.

SIX! This is out of the park! Roston Chase drops it short, pitching on middle and angling in. Ryan Rickelton gets on his back foot and swats it over the deep mid-wicket fence, targeting the shorter side of the boundary.

Full, on off, Ryan Rickelton sweeps it to deep square leg for one.

DROPPED! Hit extremely hard by Aiden Markram. One of those catches that stick, or they don't. Low full toss, on middle and leg. Aiden backs away and slams it back at the bowler. Chase sticks out his right hand at head height, but the ball does not stick in his grasp. He tips it over his head and it dribbles behind. They cross.

Fullish, on off, Ryan Rickelton takes a step away from the stumps and punches it to wide long off for a single.

Aiming for a yorker, but spills out a low full toss, just outside off. Aiden Markram slices it, but finds the fielder in the short third region.

Back of a length, on off, Aiden Markram gets on his front foot and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for an easy single.

Back of a length, angling wide across the stumps. Ryan Rickelton extends his arms to slap it away, but fails to connect.

FOUR! CRUNCHED! Back of a length, angling away. Ryan Rickelton stands tall and cuts it past backward point for four runs.

On a length, on off, Ryan Rickelton punches it to the right of the wide long on fielder and gets a brace. Jason Holder feels that the effort from Matthew Forde should have been better. He throws the ball in frustration at the batting end. Shai Hope fails to gather it, but it is backed up by the short third fielder.

Full-length delivery, on middle, angling in. Ryan Rickelton pushes it to long on and gets across.

The mix-up could have cost South Africa a wicket! This is fuller, on leg, Aiden Markram flicks it to the vacant mid-wicket region. After taking the single, Aiden Markram spots that Shimron Hetmyer is quick to charge on the ball, so he rejects the call for the second one, but Ryan Rickelton sets off and is already halfway down the track. However, he gets the time to turn and reach home safely as Shimron Hetmyer's throw is well wide of the keeper.

On a length, drifting in at the pads, Rickelton punches it to long on for a single.

Across off, on the shorter side, Aiden backs away to force it through the off side. Ends up chopping it beside the strip on the off side.

Fuller, on middle, Markram looks to whip it away but the ball leaves him to catch the leading edge. It goes down to long off for a run.

Full and on the legs, Ryan wrists it square on the leg side and crosses over.

Shorter and slower, on middle, Aiden hops back and punches it to long on for one more. 68 needed off 60 balls.

Short, on off, Aiden Markram punches it to short cover. The fielder in the region fumbles a bit, and the batter gets the window to take the single.

Short again, around the hips of the batter, Ryan Rickelton tucks it to mid-wicket for a single.

A touch fuller, on off, Aiden Markram punches it to long off to take a single.

Tossed up, fuller, on middle. Ryan Rickelton leans on the delivery and works it to mid-wicket to take a single.

FIFTY FOR MARKRAM! A captain's knock, and this is his third half-century in this World Cup. He has hardly looked troubled here and brings it up in 27 balls. Coming to the delivery, this is short and on off, Aiden Markram punches it to long off for one. With this single, the 100 comes up for South Africa.

FOUR! Short and punished! Gudakesh Motie drags his length back once again, angling in, around leg. Ryan Rickelton transfers his weight to his back foot and pulls it through backward square leg for four runs.

Fuller, on middle, Aiden Markram hangs back and dabs it back to the bowler.

Full, just outside off, Aiden Markram pushes it wide of long off and gets across for a run.

SIX! Once this man finds his rhythm, it's hard to stop him. Short, around off. Quinton de Kock goes deep in the crease and heaves it over deep mid-wicket for six runs.

FOUR! Easy as you like! A bit too short from Chase, on off. Quinton needs no second invitation. He rocks back and hammers it between deep mid-wicket and long on for a four.

Slower through the air, fuller, on middle. Quinton de Kock pushes it to the left of the bowler.

OUT! TAKEN! Roston Chase provides the much-needed breakthrough for the Windies. He floats it up, full and on middle and leg, does not spin much. Quinton de Kock goes inside-out to go over covers but due to the lack of spin, it catches the inner half of the bat. The ball flies in the air towards long on, where Jason Holder comes running in and takes a good catch around his waist height. The big 95-run opening stand is finally broken.

Short and just outside off, Aiden Markram rocks back and punches it to the left of the sweeper cover fielder for a couple of runs.

Full, on off, Aiden Markram leans on the delivery and drives it toward the right of short cover for a single.

SIX! That's a freebie from Motie! Low full toss, on off. Quinton de Kock opens his stance and slogs it up and over the deep mid-wicket fence for half a dozen.

Flat and a touch fuller, on leg, Quinton de Kock nudges it with soft hands to the vacant square leg region. Roston Chase charges from the boundary ropes and fires the throw but QDK dives and gets home safely.

FOUR! SHOT! Tossed up, the wrist spinner, fuller, outside off, Quinton de Kock extends his hands and goes downtown. Gets it off the inner half, but he manages to beat the long on and long off fielders for four runs.

Floated up, on off, Quinton firms the drive to cover. 15 from the over!

Fuller and on off, Quinton de Kock knocks it to mid off.

SIX! Quinton de Kock gets into the act now! Short of a length and on middle, angling in. QDK gets inside the line of it and hooks it miles over the deep backward square leg fence for a biggie.

FOUR! Nicely played! Shamar Joseph goes fuller this time, outside off. Quinton de Kock uses the width on offer, gets low and lofts it cleanly over extra covers for a boundary now.

Swing and a miss! Back of a length and around off, angling away from the left-hander, Quinton de Kock slashes hard but fails to connect.

SIX! You cannot bowl there! Shamar Joseph switches to over the wicket, serves this full but on the pads. Quinton de Kock picks it up nicely and using his wrists, he whips it over the deep backward square leg fence for half a dozen more.

On a length and on middle, Quinton de Kock blocks it out. 16 runs from the last over of Powerplay. South Africa are 69 for no loss after 6 overs.

Play and a miss! Back of a length and on middle, angling in sharply with extra bounce. Quinton de Kock uses his feet and slashes at it but misses.

Fuller and on middle and leg. De Kock smears it behind square leg for a single.

A leg-cutter, lands this on a hard length and around off. Aiden Markram has a big heave across the line but goes through it very early and misses.

SIX! Stand and deliver! Matthew Forde tries to go short and on middle, but this just sits up nicely for the batter. Aiden Markram backs away a bit to free his arms and whacks it over the wide long on fence for half a dozen more.

How did that miss the stumps? This is on a good length and on middle, rolls his fingers to take pace off. Aiden Markram looks to slog it across the line again but fails to connect and the ball just goes over the stumps.

MISFIELD AND FOUR! Another slower one, full and outside off, Aiden Markram throws his hands at it. He ends up slicing it in the air towards point, but it drops wide of the fielder. Roston Chase moves to his right but cannot get a hand to it and lets it through. Shamar Joseph goes after it and tries to push the ball away but fails to lay a hand on it, and the ball ends up trickling into the fence. The 50 is up for South Africa.

Gets away with it! Fuller but down the leg side. Aiden Markram glances it away but straight to short fine. This was there to be put away.

WIDE! Full and down the leg side again, Aiden Markram leaves it alone this time. Wided.

Back of a length and around leg, Aiden Markram flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Jason Holder hits the length hard this time, on off. Quinton de Kock makes room and guides it to deep point. He is happy with just the singles so far.

Uppish but safe! Jason Holder bowls this just behind the good length, on middle and leg. Aiden Markram tries to punch it away but mistimes it. However, it goes on the bounce to mid on.

FOUR! Up and over! Jason Holder sees the batter advance and bangs this into the pitch, on middle. Aiden Markram gets hurried by the bounce but manages to swat it with a flat bat. Gets it well over mid on for a boundary.

FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries! Holder follows the batter, but too far down the leg side, on a length. Aiden Markram helps it on its way past short fine for four more runs.

On a length and around off, Quinton de Kock guides it towards short third for a single.

A slower one, full and on off, Aiden Markram winds up to go big but checks his shot and gets an inside edge towards mid-wicket.

Good-length delivery, on middle, nips back in sharply. Aiden Markram fails to flick it away as the ball goes off his pads to the right of the keeper.

FOUR! Powered away! This is another slower one, full and on middle. Aiden Markram reads it well this time, waits for it and thumps it past the bowler for a boundary.

Put down! A fine effort though! Back of a length and around off, Aiden Markram backs away and punches it aerially but wide of extra cover. Brandon King flings himself to his right and tries to grab it with his outstretched right hand just above the ground, but it just does not stick. Two runs taken. Brandon seems to have hurt his hand in the process. He is going off the field.

Pitched up and on middle, Aiden Markram knocks it towards mid on for one.

Romario Shepherd begins with a hard-length delivery, but a little too straight. Aiden Markram flicks it off his hips to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Goes fuller and around off, angling away. Quinton de Kock reaches out and drills it hard but straight to short cover.

Much tighter line from Shepherd, on middle and off at a good length. Quinton de Kock stays back and keeps it out on the pitch.

Back of a length and outside off, Quinton de Kock gets low and cuts it to deep point for a run.

SIX! That is a shot and a half! Romario Shepherd bangs this into the pitch, on middle and leg. Aiden Markram picks up the length early, lifts his back leg up and plays the short-arm jab. He times it so well that it sails over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

FOUR! 10 runs off the last 2 balls! This is bowled into the surface, on off. Aiden Markram gets on top of the bounce and punches it sweetly between extra cover and mid off for a lovely boundary.

FOUR! Aiden Markram starts the chase in style! Back of a length and outside off. Markram gets the chance to free his arms and crunches it through point for the first boundary.

Matthew Forde lands this on a good length and on off, jags back in sharply. Aiden Markram looks to push it away but gets an inside edge to the leg side for a single.

Forde comes around the wicket, lands this on a hard length and on off, Quinton de Kock dabs it down to point for a run.

Touch fuller and on off, angling into the right-hander, Aiden Markram eases it down to long on for another run.

EDGED AND FOUR! Matthew Forde bowls this on a good length and in that channel outside off, threatens to angle in but moves away from the deck. Quinton de Kock gets squared up trying to play at that. Gets an outside edge that flies past first slip for another boundary.

On a length and around off, Quinton de Kock strides out and steers it to point. 11 runs off the first over!