Aiden Markram rises higher among South Africa legends with T20 World Cup 50 vs Canada

Aiden Markram in action against Canada [Source: @ProteasMenCSA/x]

Aiden Markram punched out 59 runs from 32 balls against Canada in South Africa’s opening Group D match of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Opening the innings alongside fellow vintage opener Quinton de Kock, Markram clattered 10 boundaries and a huge six at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad to lead South Africa’s charge early in the game.

Through the course of his knock, the South African skipper also went past former cricketers Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis in a couple of record batting charts in T20Is for his nation.

Aiden Markram inches closer to South Africa’s all-time T20I record

South Africa skipper Aiden Markram listed his 12th T20I half-century after his swift 59-run knock against Canada on Monday, February 9.

The innings helped him surpass former cricketers JP Duminy and Faf du Plessis to secure third spot among South African batters with the highest number of 50-plus scores to their names. However, he is still as many as eight fifties behind going past Reeza Hendricks and levelling up with Quinton de Kock to secure the all-time South Africa record. Here is a look at South African players with most 50-plus scores in T20I cricket.

Most 50+ Scores for South Africa in T20Is:

Aiden Markram rises higher in South Africa’s T20 World Cup archives

The innings also marked in-form South Africa captain Aiden Markram’s fourth fifty-plus score in a T20 World Cup game for South Africa. He is now levelled with active opening partner Quinton de Kock to hold the joint-second highest number of T20 World Cup half-centuries among all South Africa players.

As of now, former skipper AB de Villiers continues to lead the elite Proteas list with five fifty-plus scores to his name in T20 World Cups. Here is a look at five South African batters with most T20 World Cup fifty-plus scores.

South Africa punish Canada to mark confident T20 World Cup start

Getting invited to bat first, the South African team started off with a brisk 70-run opening partnership between captain Aiden Markram and wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock. The latter of the two cricketers chipped in with 25 from 22 balls in the partnership before getting knocked over by Dilpreet Bajwa in the eighth over of the match.

Markram shared another 56 runs with number three Ryan Rickelton for the second wicket to storm South Africa to 126-1 around the first 11 overs.

Canada left-arm spinner Ansh Patel, however, struck back for his side with the quick wickets of both Markram and Rickelton (33 off 21). Patel also dismissed hard-hitting middle-order batter Dewald Brevis as South Africa stumbled from 126-1 to 138-4 in the space of just two overs.

Making his return to competitive cricket after recovering from his SA20 injury, seasoned pro David Miller formed forces with Tristan Stubbs around the 14th over of the innings. At the time of publishing, South Africa reached 161-4 in 16.2 overs.