Ahmedabad

Captain Aiden Markram produced a commanding half-century as South Africa piled up an imposing 213 for four against Canada in their Group D T20 World Cup fixture here on Monday.

Asked to bat first, Markram set the tone early, taking pacer Dilon Heyliger to task with three boundaries in the second over. The South African skipper went on to score a brisk 59 off 32 deliveries, laced with fluent strokeplay.

Opening partner Quinton de Kock contributed 25 off 22 balls, striking two successive fours off Saad Bin Zafar, including a lofted drive over long-off. The pair ensured a rapid start, adding 70 runs for the first wicket in just 6.5 overs.

Canada struck their first breakthrough when De Kock was bowled by skipper Dilpreet Bajwa. Markram, however, continued to dominate the attack and brought up his half-century with a boundary off Bajwa in the 10th over, reaching the milestone in 28 balls.

Ryan Rickelton kept the momentum going with a lively 31 off 21 balls, hitting three fours and a six. Markram’s innings ended when left-arm spinner Ansh Patel had him caught at long-on by Heyliger.

Patel then struck twice in quick succession as Rickelton was caught on the boundary by Harsh Thaker, while Dewald Brevis departed four balls later, taken at mid-off by Nicholas Kirton, leaving South Africa briefly pegged back.

The late charge came from David Miller and Tristan Stubbs, who stitched together an unbroken 75-run partnership for the fifth wicket in just 37 balls. Miller remained unbeaten on 39 off 23 balls, while Stubbs chipped in with 34 off 19, as the Proteas surged past the 200-run mark.

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For Canada, left-arm spinner Ansh Patel was the most successful bowler, returning figures of 3 for 31.