Breaking Update: Here’s a clear explanation of the latest developments related to Breaking News:LIVE: South Africa off to a flying start against West Indies | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, 2026– What Just Happened and why it matters right now.
Put into bat, West Indies stepped out with a glory or bust attitude.
Captain Shai Hope announced the intent with two sixes in the opening over off Keshav Maharaj and the team charged to 29 in the first two overs.
But South Africa quickly pegged them back as their premier pacers Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi claimed two wickets each in their opening overs.
Rabada packed Hope and Shimron Hetmyer within the space of three balls, while Ngidi claimed Brandon King and Roston Chase as the West Indies crashed from 29/1 to 43/4.
Fighting fire with fire, Holder and Shepherd blasted their way out of trouble. Holder, who slammed four fours and three sixes, fell just one short of a fifty. Meanwhile, his partner, Shepherd brought up his first T20I fifty, scoring an 52 off 37, with the help of three fours and four sixes.
West Indies struck 11 sixes and 15 fours in total, earning 126 runs in boundaries.
It was one of the rare off days for South Africa in the field, as they dropped at least three regulation catches. As for the bowlers, Rabada (2/22) and Ngidi (3/30) and Corbin Bosch (2/31) helped their team to a position of strength, before Holder and Shepherd launched the onslaught.