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London Calling Podcast Yana Bolder
Almost a decade ago, India hosted the 2016 T20 World Cup, and South Africa were there with Faf du Plessis leading the team. The Proteas would return home empty handed after failing to reach the knockout stages.
Ahead of this month’s 2026 ICC T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, Ongama Gcwabe goes down memory lane, reliving all of South Africa’s four fixtures from the 2016 edition.
1. SA vs England, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Result: Eng by 2 wickets, four balls remaining
The Proteas went down narrowly as England completed the second-highest successful chase in T20 internationals and the highest in T20 World Cup history at the time.
On a perfect batting surface, Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock and JP Duminy’s half-centuries propelled the Proteas’ to 229/4 before Jason Roy (43 off 16 balls) tore into Dale Steyn (0/35 from two overs) and a young Kagiso Rabada (2/50 from four overs) that set the platform for Joe Root’s sublime 83 off 44 balls.
The defeat left the Proteas’ with precious little breathing room for the remainder of the competition, while it ignited England’s campaign that ran all the way to the final.
2. SA v Afghanistan, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Result: South Africa won by 37 runs
The Proteas set up the victory through contributions from AB de Villiers (64), Quinton de Kock (45) and Du Plessis (41) as the batters passed 200 runs for the second consecutive game.
They were once again the victims of an opening assault when Mohammad Shahzad thrashed 44 off only 19 balls as the Afghans raced to 50 without loss within the first four overs.
But once Shahzad was clean bowled by Chris Morris (4/27), the rest of the Afghanistan batters did not have the firepower to maintain the challenge with Imran Tahir (2/24), Kyle Abbott (2/36) and Rabada (2/37), sealing off the victory, giving South Africa hopes of reaching the semi-finals.
3. SA v West Indies, Nagpur
Result: WI won by 3 wickets, 2 balls remaining
This match was a virtual quarter-final with West Indies having lost to Afghanistan and the Proteas to England already.
The Proteas were restricted to 122/8 on a slow-paced turning Nagpur track with Chris Gayle taking the ball and claiming 2/17 in his three overs. Andre Russell and Dwayne Bravo also picking up two wickets each.
All the Proteas bowlers fought gamely with leg-spinner Imran Tahir leading the way with 2/13 from his four overs, but eventual final hero Marlon Samuels held the innings together with a solid 43 off 44 balls to edge the Windies over the line.
Again, South Africa had shown skill and fight, but could not to get the job done.
4. SA v West Indies, Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, Delhi
Result: SA won by 8 wickets
Looking to redeem themselves, the Proteas asserted their dominance over Sri Lanka, thrashing them by eight wickets in Delhi.
The Proteas bowlers, led by Abbott (2/14), Farhaan Behardien (2/15) and Aaron Phangiso (2/26), dismantled the Sri Lanka batting unit for 120.
Amla (56 not out) and De Villiers (20 not out) helped chase down the total with 14 balls remaining.
Despite the victory, it was not enough to propel the Proteas to the semi-final stage of the tournament.
For years, Prev Reddy has been a household name, largely thanks to the gown-wearing, sharp-tongued force of nature known as Aunty Shamilla. But in 2026, Reddy is proving that man underneath has plenty more stories to tell.In January, Reddy announced that he had signed a book deal with Pan Macmillan SA. The move wasn't a departure from comedy, but a response to a personal plateau.He describes the pivot as a […]
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