West Indies registered a record eighth-wicket stand to fight back in a crucial clash with South Africa in the T20 World Cup today (February 26).
The SA-WI match at Ahmedabad had immense importance, not just for the two teams but also for India. Following their massive loss to the Proteas on Sunday, India would rely on the fixture to gain a clearer idea of their future prospects in the tournament.
The match began with the West Indies getting off to a flier: They made 17 runs in the first over, and then raced away to 29 by the end of the second. However, it ended up being almost a case of boom or bust for them: by the 10th over, the West Indies had made 82 runs, but also lost six wickets, giving South Africa the upper hand.
At 83-7, they fell deeper into trouble, but Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder put on a remarkable comeback.
Super 8 - Match 7, West Indies vs South Africa
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- Ball by ball Over
Shepherd-Holder take West Indies over 170
The two batters combined in the 11th over after the dismissal of Matthew Forde. The two began cautiously, with Holder scoring a run-a-ball 12 and Shepherd on five off eight as batting out the full quota of overs became the aim. The duo hit at least one boundary in the last eight overs, gradually taking the team closer to the 170-run mark.
The South Africa bowlers, who were excellent with the variations, utilising the bounce on the red soil wicket to their advantage, struggled with their widths in the second half of the innings, as both batters neared their fifties.
Holder was unable to get to the landmark, falling on 49 off 31, but not before the two made 89 for the eighth wicket in 57 balls. It is the biggest eighth-wicket stand shared by batters from a Full-Member team, with Shepherd also involved in the previous record; he and Shamar Springer made 78 against New Zealand last November.
West Indies posted 176-8 in their 20 overs, a target that once seemed improbable.
Highest T20I stands for the eighth wicket featuring Full-Member teams
| Players (Country) | Stand | Opposition | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| JO Holder, R Shepherd (WI) | 89 | v South Africa | 26 Feb 2026 |
| R Shepherd, SK Springer (WI) | 78 | v New Zealand | 9 Nov 2025 |
| C Madande, WP Masakadza (ZIM) | 75 | v Bangladesh | 3 May 2024 |
| GH Dockrell, F Hand (IRE) | 74 | v Afghanistan | 12 Aug 2022 |
| AJ Hosein, R Shepherd (WI) | 72* | v England | 23 Jan 2022 |
| MR Adair, C Campher (IRE) | 69* | v U.A.E. | 31 Jan 2026 |
| R Powell, R Shepherd (WI) | 67 | v Bangladesh | 15 Dec 2024 |
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