South Africa produced a dominant all-round display to defeat Canada by 57 runs in the South africa vs canada Group D match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. A powerful batting effort led by captain Aiden Markram, followed by a clinical bowling performance, ensured an easy victory for the Proteas.
After being asked to bat first, South Africa posted a massive total of 213 for 4 in their allotted 20 overs. Canada, despite a fighting knock from Navneet Dhaliwal, could only reach 156 for 8, falling well short of the target.
Canada’s Toss Decision Backfires
Canada captain Dilpreet Bajwa won the toss and elected to field first, hoping to take advantage of early conditions. However, South Africa’s batters quickly took control, putting the Canadian bowlers under pressure from the very beginning.
The South africa vs canada contest was an important fixture in Group D, with South Africa aiming to maintain momentum and Canada looking to challenge one of the strongest teams in the tournament.
South Africa Batting: Markram Sets the Tone
South Africa started aggressively and never allowed the run rate to drop. The top order provided a solid platform, while the middle order accelerated brilliantly towards the end.
South Africa Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiden Markram (c) | 50 | 28 | 8 | 1 |
| David Miller* | 39 | 23 | 1 | 3 |
| Tristan Stubbs* | 34 | 19 | 2 | 2 |
| Ryan Rickelton | 33 | 21 | 3 | 1 |
| Quinton de Kock | 25 | 22 | 2 | 0 |
Aiden Markram played a captain’s innings, reaching his half-century in just 28 balls. His knock was packed with timing and placement, helping South Africa reach 50 runs inside five overs and 100 runs before the 10-over mark.
Although Markram was dismissed while attacking, the momentum did not slow down. David Miller and Tristan Stubbs finished the innings strongly, smashing boundaries in the final overs to push South Africa past the 200-run mark.
Canada Bowling Highlights
| Bowler | Overs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|
| Ansh Patel | 4 | 3 |
| Other bowlers | — | 1 |
Ansh Patel stood out for Canada with three important wickets, including the scalps of Markram and Rickelton. However, the lack of support from the other bowlers allowed South Africa to dominate.
Canada’s Chase: Dhaliwal Shows Resistance
Canada’s chase began on a shaky note as South Africa’s fast bowlers struck early. Regular wickets meant the required run rate kept climbing, putting pressure on the batting unit.
Navneet Dhaliwal emerged as Canada’s best performer, playing a composed innings and keeping hopes alive for a while.
Canada Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navneet Dhaliwal | 64 | 49 | 7 | 1 |
| Harsh Thaker | 33 | 29 | 2 | 2 |
| Yuvraj Samra | 12 | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| Saad Bin Zafar | 11 | 12 | 1 | 0 |
Dhaliwal reached his half-century with a mix of patience and aggression, but his dismissal proved decisive. After he fell, Canada lost wickets in quick succession and struggled to keep up with the required scoring rate.
Canada reached 100 runs in 13.2 overs, but by then the target was already slipping away.
Ngidi Leads South Africa’s Bowling Attack
South Africa’s bowlers were disciplined and aggressive, never allowing Canada to build long partnerships.
South Africa Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Wickets |
|---|---|
| Lungi Ngidi | 4 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 1 |
| Marco Jansen | 1 |
| Corbin Bosch | 1 |
Lungi Ngidi was the standout performer, picking up four wickets and breaking the backbone of Canada’s batting line-up. His ability to strike at crucial moments ensured that Canada never threatened South Africa’s total.
Match Result Summary
| Match | South Africa vs Canada |
|---|---|
| Venue | T20 World Cup 2026 |
| South Africa | 213/4 (20 overs) |
| Canada | 156/8 (20 overs) |
| Result | South Africa won by 57 runs |
| Player of the Match | Aiden Markram |
Playing XIs
South Africa Team
Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram (Captain), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi
Canada Team
Dilpreet Bajwa (Captain), Yuvraj Samra, Navneet Dhaliwal, Nicholas Kirton, Shreyas Movva, Harsh Thaker, Saad Bin Zafar, Jaskaran Singh, Dillon Heyliger, Kaleem Sana, Ansh Patel
Group D Impact and What’s Next
This convincing South africa vs canada victory significantly boosted South Africa’s net run rate and strengthened their position in Group D. With a powerful batting lineup and a lethal pace attack, the Proteas look well-prepared for tougher challenges ahead.
For Canada, the match offered valuable experience against top-quality opposition. Performances from Navneet Dhaliwal and Ansh Patel will give them confidence as they continue their T20 World Cup campaign.
As the tournament progresses, South Africa’s emphatic win over Canada stands out as one of the most one-sided contests so far, underlining their status as strong contenders for the T20 World Cup 2026 title.
