WATCH: Keshav Maharaj plucks a screamer to remove Shimron Hetmyer during T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 encounter

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The atmosphere at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad was electric on Thursday, as West Indies and South Africa locked horns in a high-stakes 47th Match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. In this crucial Super Eights, Group 1 encounter, South Africa won the toss and elected to field, a decision that paid immediate dividends. While the world expected a Caribbean firework display, the opening six overs turned into a masterclass of South African discipline, headlined by a moment of individual brilliance in the field that will be replayed for years to come.

The definitive moment of the Powerplay occurred in the third over, delivered by the relentless Kagiso Rabada. With the West Indies already reeling from the loss of skipper Shai Hope just three balls prior, the pressure was squarely on Shimron Hetmyer to steady the ship. Instead, the South African fielding unit produced a “magic moment” that left the Ahmedabad crowd in awe.

On the fifth ball of the over, Rabada steamed in and delivered a testing length ball aimed at middle and leg. Hetmyer, looking to break the shackles immediately, cleared his front leg to heave the ball across the line toward the midwicket boundary. He didn’t get the desired connection, getting it off the inner half of the bat.

Enter Keshav Maharaj. Stationed at midwicket, Maharaj had a fraction of a second to react. He sprinted to his right, tracking the dipping trajectory of the ball, and launched himself into a full-length dive. With his hands in a reverse-cupped position, he snatched the ball inches from the turf, tumbling over but maintaining a firm grip as he hit the ground. It was a “screamer” in every sense of the word. Hetmyer was forced to depart for just 2 runs off 3 balls, leaving the West Indies dugout in a state of shock and handing Rabada his second wicket in a single over.

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The spectacular catch by Maharaj was the crown jewel of a dominant bowling performance that saw the West Indies batting line-up falter under immense pressure. Despite a fast-paced surface, the Caribbean hitters struggled to find their rhythm against a clinical South African attack.

By the time the Drinks break was called at the 6-over mark, the West Indies had limped to 52/4. While the run rate remained a healthy 8.66, the loss of four top-order wickets in the first 36 balls put South Africa firmly in the driver’s seat. Rabada was the pick of the bowlers with clinical figures of 2/7 in his two overs, while Lungi Ngidi provided excellent support with 2/11. As Rovman Powell and Sherfane Rutherford look to rebuild, they face a mountainous task against a Proteas side that seems inspired by Maharaj’s heroics.

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