Classy Markram helps SA dodge controversy, thump West Indies

Overcoming a massive setback when their star opener Quinton de Kock pulled out at the last minute due to his refusal to take the knee to support the BLM movement, an emotionally-charged South Africa thumped the West Indies by eight wickets in Dubai on Tuesday.

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While South Africa have done well to bounce back after a defeat to the Aussies in their opener, the West Indies, having lost their first two games in the competition, are now in danger of crashing out early.

Unless they pull up their socks and win all their remaining three games from here, the defending champions, lying at the bottom of Group A with a poor net run rate of -2.55, may be forced to head for the exit door.

The architect of South Africa’s most emotional victory in recent times was Aiden Markram. Walking in with the game in balance with SA at 61 for two in the 10th over chasing 144, Markram provided the right kind of momentum to the innings with a free-flowing, unbeaten 51 off just 26 balls, in an innings studded with four sixes and two fours.