South Africa made a blazing start to the chase, racing to 11/0 after 1 over, with Aiden Markram striking an early boundary. The momentum continued as Markram attacked in the second over, taking the score to 23/0 after 2 overs.
The third over saw steady accumulation to 31/0, before Markram’s aggressive strokeplay, including a six and a four, powered South Africa to 42/0 after 4 overs. The opening stand crossed fifty in the fifth over as Markram dominated, guiding the score to 53/0.
Quinton de Kock then joined the charge with multiple sixes and a four in the sixth over, helping South Africa surge to 69/0 at the end of the powerplay.
Spin was introduced in the seventh over, but the batters kept the pressure on, moving to 84/0 after 7 overs with fluent boundaries. The breakthrough finally came in the eighth over when Roston Chase dismissed de Kock for 47, ending the explosive opening stand. South Africa reached 95/1 after 8 overs, firmly in control of the chase.