West Indies vs South Africa, Super 8 - Match 7 Match Summary

High stakes showdown - The second round of fixtures in Group 1 kicks off with South Africa taking on the West Indies at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium. Two teams that began their Super 8 campaign with statement wins will now look to take a decisive step towards the semi-finals. Fortress Ahmedabad - Ahmedabad has turned into quite the fortress for the Proteas. The 2024 runners-up look determined to go all the way this time after the heartbreak in Barbados. Unbeaten so far, four of South Africa's five games have come at this venue, and they have made it their stronghold. The win over reigning champions India would have injected enormous belief into the side. Different individuals have stepped up at different times, with David Miller, Dewald Brevis and Tristan Stubbs making telling contributions against India. Their top three, though, have been slightly inconsistent. Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock are yet to fully hit their stride, while Aiden Markram has been the more consistent presence at the top. With the ball, Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi have led the pace attack and compensated for the underwhelming returns from Kagiso Rabada, who has just two wickets in five games with a strike rate of 59, the worst among the Proteas bowlers. Corbin Bosch and Keshav Maharaj have chipped in as well, and alongside Markram, Maharaj will have a key role to play in the spin department. Caribbean charge - West Indies lead the standings in Group 1 after a thumping 107-run win over Zimbabwe in Mumbai and have carried that momentum from the group stage into the Super 8s. Confidence is high, and their net run rate boost has put them in a strong position early in this phase. The Men in Maroon have never played a T20I in Ahmedabad. That unfamiliarity could be a factor, and they will have to lean on the experience of players who have played at this venue in the IPL. There remains a concern at the top of the order, with Brandon King yet to make a truly impactful contribution. However, the middle order has fired consistently enough to ensure it has not hampered their campaign. Is it time for Johnson Charles to come in for King? Over his career, he has enjoyed success against South Africa, and his highest T20I score of 118 came against the Proteas. One of the big positives for the Caribbean side after their previous win was Rovman Powell getting crucial runs under his belt. In the spin department, Gudakesh Motie has been among the standouts. Fellow left-arm finger spinner Akeal Hosein also had a good day out against Zimbabwe, which are encouraging signs heading into this clash. On the pace bowling front, it has been a collective effort. Jason Holder, Matthew Forde, Romario Shepherd and Shamar Joseph have all contributed at different stages, giving the West Indies variety and depth with the ball. Form (Last 5 completed T20Is, most recent first) - South Africa - WWWWW | West Indies - WWWWW. What to expect? Ahmedabad has hosted five games so far at this World Cup, but this will be the first afternoon fixture with a 3 pm start. The heat will be a major factor early on, with both sides having to manage the conditions before temperatures ease a bit after sunset. With dew not being a factor, the toss may not carry as much weight as it does in evening matches. There is also recent history between these two sides. Just before the start of the World Cup, they faced off in a T20I series in South Africa, which the hosts won 2-1. In T20 World Cup meetings, the Proteas have had the upper hand, winning four out of five clashes, including the last two. All signs point to a fiercely contested afternoon in Ahmedabad. Who are you rooting for?