North Sound (Antigua), Jun 19: Opener Quinton de Kock hit a blazing half-century and shared a 110-run partnership with skipper Aiden Markram as South Africa defeated the USA by 18 runs in their opening T20 World Cup Super Eight (Group 2) match here on Wednesday.

De Kock smashed 74 off 40 deliveries, while Markram hit a 32-ball 46 as the Proteas made a solid 194 for 4 in 20 overs. They then restricted the USA batters to 176/6 with pacer Kagiso Rabada (3/18) doing the maximum damage.

USA's opener Andries Gous gave the Proteas the jitters with his audacious strokeplay but his unbeaten 80 off 47 balls went in vain. He was ably supported by Harmeet Singh, who contributed 38 runs.

Earlier, De Kock was brutal in his knock, hitting seven boundaries and five maximums. Heinrich Klaasen remained unbeaten on 36, while Tristan Stubbs contributed 20 as SA made a big impression in their Super Eight game.

For the USA, who chose to field, left-arm pacer Saurabh Netravalkar and spinner Harmeet Singh took two wickets each.

Brief scores:

South Africa: 194 for 4 in 20 overs (Quinton de Kock 74, Aiden Markram 46, Heinrich Klaasen 36 not out, Tristan Stubbs 20 not out; Saurabh Netravalkar 2/21, Harmeet Singh 2/24).

USA: 176 for 6 in 20 overs (Steven Taylor 24, Andries Gous 80 not out, Harmeet Singh 38; Kagiso Rabada 3/18).

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Kolkata (PTI): Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee undertook a roadshow in south Kolkata spanning over six kilometres on Monday afternoon at the fag end of campaigning for the second and final phase of the West Bengal assembly election.

The TMC chief was accompanied by party Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose and candidates Aroop Biswas and Debasish Kumar from Tollygunge and Rashbehari, respectively.

People waiting on the roadside and on rooftops and balconies waved at Banerjee as she greeted them with folded hands, walking briskly, as her party compatriots had a tough time keeping pace with her.

The chief minister is contesting from the Bhabanipur assembly seat, where she is pitted against her bete noire, Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP, who defeated her in the 2021 elections in Nandigram.

Banerjee was subsequently elected from Bhabanipur in a byelection.

The roadshow started at Sukanta Setu in the Jadavpur area and culminated at Gopalnagar crossing, past her Kalighat residence, with two small stopovers in between.

TMC flags, festoons, cutouts of Banerjee and banners with slogans in favour of the candidates adorned the roadsides through which the road show passed and culminated at around 5.30 pm.

A large number of TMC supporters participated in the roadshow that Banerjee conducted to end her campaign for the 2026 assembly election in West Bengal.