Group D got wild really fast. South Africa absolutely destroyed Canada – we’re talking a 57-run beating after they piled on 200-plus. The T20 World Cup Standings Group D has them on top with a crazy +2.850 NRR.
Nobody else in the entire tournament has a net run rate that high. New Zealand beat Afghanistan by 5 wickets to grab second place. UAE’s sitting around waiting – their T20 World Cup 2026 hasn’t even begun yet.
South Africa’s Dominant Start to the Points Table
Aiden Markram came out swinging – his 59 runs the whole tone for South Africa’s innings. David Miller finished things off with an unbeaten 39 runs. Canada had no answers once the target crossed 200 in Group D.
That 57-run margin isn’t just a win – it’s a statement to everyone watching. South Africa’s NRR shot up to the top of the T20 World Cup 2026 Standings instantly. They’re last edition’s runners-up. Do they look determined in 2026?
Every single batter contributed something meaningful. Nobody got out cheaply, nobody wasted deliveries. That’s championship cricket showing up early on the table.
| Position | Team | Matches | Won | Lost | No Result | Points | Net Run Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa (RSA) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +2.850 |
| 2 | New Zealand (NZ) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +1.162 |
| 3 | UAE | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 4 | Afghanistan (AFG) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -1.162 |
| 5 | Canada (CAN) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -2.850 |
Afghanistan’s Struggles Drop Them to Third
Afghanistan batted first and got to 182/6 – not a bad score at all. Gulbadin Naib went berserk with 63 off 35 balls during the opener clash. The rest chipped in enough to make it competitive.
Then their bowling just imploded spectacularly. The pacers had zero clue what they were doing out there. New Zealand’s batsmen picked them apart easily, cruising to victory with 5 wickets left.
Rashid Khan’s horror show was painful to watch – 36 runs leaked, not a single wicket taken. Where was the Rashid magic we’ve seen before? Only Mujeeb Ur Rahman grabs 2/31.
Now Afghanistan’s stuck third on the T20 World Cup Standings with their NRR looking ugly. Next up vs South Africa – basically win or go home for their Super Eight chances in 2026.
Tactical Mistakes and Pressure Points
Afghanistan left out Noor Ahmad despite his T20 experience at Chepauk. They went with extra pacers instead, a decision that looks terrible now. Tactical calls like these decide tournaments in Group D.
Young Dewald Brevis is facing heat after scoring just 6 for South Africa. His T20I form’s been terrible lately – 31 is his highest in 14 matches in 2026. The table looks good, but individual performances need fixing.
