West Indies vs South Africa Prediction & Match Preview – T20 World Cup 47th Match
Match summary
West Indies and South Africa, both fresh from big wins, meet in Ahmedabad in the 2026 T20 World Cup. Read our preview, pitch and weather notes.
Match details
| Match | West Indies vs South Africa, 47th Match |
|---|---|
| Series | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Date | 26 Feb 2026 |
| Start time | 9:30 am GMT / 3:00 pm local |
| Venue | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | South Africa |
| Toss pick | West Indies |
Matches in this series
Match preview
West Indies come into this Super 8 match after crushing Zimbabwe by 107 runs. Batting first, they posted 254 with Shimron Hetmyer hitting 85 off 34 balls (seven fours, seven sixes) and Rovman Powell 59 off 34. Sherfane Rutherford finished on 31 not out and Romario Shepherd made 21.
The bowlers then dismissed Zimbabwe for 147 in 17.4 overs. Gudakesh Motie took 4 for 28, Akeal Hosein 3 for 28, Matthew Forde two wickets and Jason Holder one.
South Africa also arrive on a high, having beaten India by 76 runs. After choosing to bat, they scored 187 in 20 overs, David Miller making 63 off 35, Dewald Brevis 45 off 29 and Tristan Stubbs 44 not out.
In reply India were bowled out for 111 in 18.5 overs. Marco Jansen took 4 for 22, Keshav Maharaj 3 for 24, Corbin Bosch two and Aiden Markram one. Expect a high-quality contest, with powerplay wickets and the way each side handles the death overs likely to swing it by 15 to 20 runs.
Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium is known for batting-friendly surfaces in limited-overs cricket, offering good pace and steady bounce so batters can play their shots once set. Seamers may find some carry early, but it fades quickly. The pitch usually stays true, helping batters accelerate, while spinners get some grip only if they vary their pace and hit the right areas.
The afternoon in Ahmedabad on 26 February is expected to be hot and mostly sunny, with temperatures in the mid to high 30s °C and dry heat. Rain is not expected, and the strong sun may make conditions demanding on players.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 170–185 | – |
| Second innings | 160–175 | – |
South Africa
South Africa’s balanced attack and a 76-run win over India put them narrowly ahead of a power-hitting West Indies side.
Toss pick: West Indies
FAQ
How did West Indies win their last match?
They beat Zimbabwe by 107 runs after posting 254, with Shimron Hetmyer hitting 85 off 34 balls.
How did South Africa win their last match?
They beat India by 76 runs, making 187 and then bowling India out for 111, with Marco Jansen taking 4 for 22.
Will the heat be a factor?
Yes, an afternoon start in mid-to-high 30s heat may test fitness, so powerplay and death-over execution could decide the result.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
West Indies
- Brandon King
- Shai Hopec, wk
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Sherfane Rutherford
- Rovman Powell
- Jason Holder
- Romario Shepherd
- Roston Chase
- Akeal Hosein
- Shamar Joseph
- Gudakesh Motie
South Africa
- Quinton de Kockwk
- Ryan Rickelton
- Aiden Markramc
- Dewald Brevis
- Tristan Stubbs
- David Miller
- Marco Jansen
- George Linde
- Kagiso Rabada
- Lungi Ngidi
- Keshav Maharaj
Head-to-head
Earlier meetings of West Indies and South Africa that we covered.