SA vs CAN

With that win, South Africa starts their quest for a maiden ICC T20 World Cup trophy on the right note. A big clash awaits in a couple of days against Afghanistan for South Africa, which might decide the fate of this group. Canada, on the other hand, travels to Delhi to take on the UAE in what promises to be an entertaining game. But that's all from this game and today's set of fixtures in the T20 World Cup. Tomorrow promises to be a cracking day as well with New Zealand and Pakistan in action. But until this is Dwijesh, on behalf of my colleague Sourabh, signing off. Goodbye and take care!

Aiden Markram (South Africa captain): It is important (to start off well). We have seen at the start of the comp that anyone can beat anyone. Nice start from the guys, solid in all the departments. Happy with the win. (Selection) It is always conditions based but it is never easy, everyone has been pushing hard to be a part of the 11. Everyone is locked in knowing it is going to be a squad effort throughout this world cup. Not easy telling guys who are not playing, they recieve it well and give good enery back to the team. (On Stubbs and Miller's finish) It is a really important phase of the game in India, they had to do a bit of gardening before they could tee off and they did that really well to finish. Hopefully they can take the confidence and momentum into the next one. (On his pacers) They bowled really well. There was a little on offer up front then dew came in and it got better but they asked some good questions, trying to take wickets throughout which is really important. Pretty good performance overall, there will always be a couple of questions as to where we can get better but very happy all in all. (Next game against Afg) Semi-finalists in the last edition, day game as well. We will have to be on it, nice and early. Looking forward to the next game

Dilpreet Bajwa (Canada captain): "We were expecting to restrict SA to 170-175; we left some extra runs over there in the middle. Ansh played really well. This is his home ground, so he was really pumped up and did well against South Africa. I think Dhaliwal's experience works well; he has played for over 10 years for Canada, but our experience against big teams is lacking. I think South Africa's bowling is the best; everyone bowls 140+, but credit to Dhaliwal. I think we lost some wickets trying to be aggressive with the bat so we need to watch the ball more clearly and play better with the bat."

Lungi Ngidi is the Player of the Match for his 4/31, here are his thoughts: (What brings about the best out of him in the T20 format?) It is the fact that I have to find a way to take wickets. Willing to take those risks. Sometimes I go for boundaries but those risky balls pay off and they end up in the wickets column. That is how I play T20 cricket, will do more of it. (Playing an unknown opponent) That was one of things we struggled with tonight, the gameplan for guys thgat you haven't seen much of. It was trial and error. Some of the balls were going for boundaries, we would then have a chat and then shit and try something different. Was pretty simple with the new ball but then pretty much trial and error till the end. (Impact of dew) It did have a bit of impact, once you bowled a touch fuller it would slide. The slower balls still were holding on. They connected a few which told us that it was having an effect. We knew that our attack brings pace but for me I feel like the variations are the ones that catch players out, I try to do what I do best, keep it simple, keep changing it up and keep guys guessing.

South Africa beat Canada by 57 runs.

Aiden Markram - 59(32) | Lungi Ngidi - 4/31
Navneet Dhaliwal - 64(49) | Ansh Patel - 3/31

Canada walked into a stiff chase knowing the odds were against them, and the opening exchanges only made the task heavier. South Africa struck early and hard. Lungi Ngidi hit his straps in the powerplay, extracting just enough movement to prise out three wickets, while Kagiso Rabada’s yorker to Shreyas Movva was a reminder of how little margin there is against elite pace. At that point, the result felt largely settled.

What followed, though, was creditable resistance. Navneet Dhaliwal and Harsh Thaker refused to let the innings unravel completely, choosing composure over recklessness. Thaker played with freedom, finding timing rather than force, while Dhaliwal carried the responsibility with maturity. His 64 off 49 balls was measured, controlled, and full of intent — the kind of innings that earns respect even in defeat. Together, they gave Canada something to build on and something to take forward.

South Africa, however, never loosened their grip. Ngidi returned to finish with four wickets, Marco Jansen cleaned up at the death, and Keshav Maharaj kept things quiet through the middle. Rabada went for a few, but it never threatened the larger picture. Corbin Bosch, trusted ahead of George Linde and Anrich Nortje, justified the call with a composed showing late on.

The 57-run margin reflected South Africa’s authority, but it also masked Canada’s quieter achievement: they competed, adapted, and showed they belong in this space. South Africa moves on with momentum intact, Canada leaves with lessons learned and belief slowly taking root.

19.6 Corbin Bosch to Kaleem Sana, FOUR, makes no difference as South Africa start their campaign with a thumping 57-run victory against a much lower pedigreed Canada! With the way things have gone, South Africa will be more that pleased to get a win like that and register two points on the board. Slot delivery from Bosch to end, Kaleem smacks it over cover and collects a boundary

19.5 Corbin Bosch to Dillon Heyliger, stands tall and punches it hard through the covers, short of a length outside off, straight to the sweeper though and will only be one

19.4 Corbin Bosch to Dillon Heyliger, pace off again, full and outside off, a big heave across the line from Heyliger but he makes no contact whatsoever

19.3 Corbin Bosch to Kaleem Sana, on a length around off, Kaleem pokes at it tentatively and gets an edge down to third man for a single to open his account

19.1 Corbin Bosch to Navneet Dhaliwal, OUT, Dhaliwal's impressive innings comes to an end! Guess what, it is another catch on the boundary rope. Slower one from Bosch, was in the slot and Dhaliwal should have put it away, was deep in his crease and he offered catching practice to long-on

18.4 Kagiso Rabada to Dillon Heyliger, slips one it very full around off, Heyliger can only squeeze it out towards cover and they have to scurry across for one off the FREE HIT