South Africa clinched a convincing nine-wicket win over the West Indies in the first T20I of their 2026 tour at Boland Park in Paarl. Chasing a target of 174, the Proteas cruised to 176 for 1 in just 17.5 overs, demonstrating their dominance throughout the match. This result underscores South Africa’s consistent performance and their knack for controlling the game right from the start.

The opening partnership of 83 runs set a solid foundation for South Africa’s chase, effectively snuffing out any hopes of a West Indies comeback. Aiden Markram was in fantastic form from the get-go, playing with both confidence and composure. 

He received great support from Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who quickly got into the groove and helped speed up the innings, especially during the powerplay. The pair blasted 29 runs off the last two overs of the powerplay, bringing the score to 68 without loss after six overs. 

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Pretorius fell in the eighth over while trying to play an ambitious shot, but Markram kept his momentum going, ultimately notching up his highest T20I score against the West Indies. Rickelton, despite struggling with his timing for much of his innings, showed patience and took advantage of loose deliveries to keep the innings on track. 

On the flip side, the West Indies had a tough day in the field. Akeal Hosein, usually one of their most dependable players in this format, had a rough outing. 

He dropped a straightforward catch when Markram was on 27 and gave away 31 runs in his three overs, which hindered his ability to make a significant impact on the match. In the end, South Africa’s strong batting, coupled with the West Indies’ failure to seize key moments, made all the difference, leading the Proteas to a comprehensive and well-earned victory.