Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder Set T20I Record in World Cup Clash

In a remarkable display during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder formed a record-breaking partnership for the eighth wicket against South Africa. Their 89-run stand not only helped the West Indies recover from a precarious position but also placed them in the history books. Meanwhile, Kagiso Rabada made headlines by surpassing Dale Steyn's wicket record for South Africa in T20 World Cups. This article delves into the match highlights, player performances, and the current standings in the Super 8 stage.

By Narendra Chaudhary Feb 26, 2026, 18:53 IST

Shepherd and Holder Achieve Record Partnership

In a thrilling encounter during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Super 8, Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder established the second-highest partnership for the eighth wicket or lower in T20I history against South Africa. Their impressive 89-run collaboration is only surpassed by the unbeaten 132-run partnership for the ninth wicket between Belgium's Saber Zakhil and Saqlain Ali, achieved against Austria in 2021.

Following closely is Sierra Leone's Chernoh Bah and Lansana Lamin, who recorded an 88-run partnership against Eswatini in 2024.

Match Overview

In the match, South Africa managed to limit the West Indies to a total of 176 runs for 8 wickets in their 20 overs. At one point, the West Indies found themselves struggling at 83 for 7 after 11 overs. However, Shepherd (52 not out off 37 balls, featuring three fours and four sixes) and Holder (49 off 31 balls, including four boundaries and three sixes) combined to form a crucial 89-run partnership, propelling their team to a more competitive score.

Rabada Surpasses Steyn's Record

South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada was instrumental in the match, taking 2 wickets for 22 runs, while Lungi Ngidi and Corbin Bosch contributed with 3 for 30 and 2 for 31, respectively. With this performance, Rabada surpassed the legendary Dale Steyn to become the second-highest wicket-taker for South Africa in T20 World Cup history.

Rabada, now 30 years old, has achieved 32 wickets in 28 innings at an average of 25.46, with his best figures being 3 for 18. The leading wicket-taker for the Proteas in T20 World Cup history remains Anrich Nortje, who has 37 wickets in just 20 matches at an impressive average of 11.54, including three four-wicket hauls and best bowling figures of 4 for 7. Bangladesh's Shakib al Hasan holds the record for the most wickets in T20 World Cup history, with 50 wickets in 43 matches at an average of 20.12, including three four-wicket hauls and best figures of 4 for 9.

Super 8 Standings

In their opening Super 8 match, South Africa triumphed over defending champions India by 76 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Meanwhile, the West Indies secured a significant victory in their first Super 8 game against Zimbabwe, winning by 107 runs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.