"The Test Will Come...": Former South Africa captain warns West Indies ahead of SA vs WI Super 8 match

West Indies posted the second-highest total in T20 World Cup history and defeated the Zimbabwe national cricket team by 107 runs in the Super Eights on Monday. The Caribbean side scored a team record 254 for 6. Shimron Hetmyer, who was dropped on 9 and 70, smashed 85 runs off 34 balls with seven sixes. Rovman Powell added 59 runs from 35 balls.

Not only the batters, but the spinners also impressed. Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie delivered an excellent bowling performance at the Wankhede Stadium. They played a key role in defending the big total of 254 runs. After the strong batting display, the two left-arm spinners controlled the game with the ball. Together, they took seven wickets and did not allow Zimbabwe to build any partnership.

Addressing this matter, former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said that tougher challenges are still to come in the Super Eight stage. He believes the real test will be against stronger teams.

Hosein gave early breakthroughs in the power play and finished with figures of 3 for 28. He bowled an important maiden over and dismissed Brian Bennett and Ryan Burl. He also kept Sikandar Raza under pressure with dot balls.

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Du Plessis Warns of Tougher Tests Ahead

Gudakesh Motie, who came into the attack after the powerplay, also bowled very well. He took the wicket of Dion Myers in his first over and finished with 4 for 28. The left-arm spinner troubled Zimbabwe’s middle order and dismissed Sikandar Raza and Tashinga Musekiwa in the same over.

Former South Africa national cricket team captain Faf du Plessis praised both Motie and Akeal Hosein. However, he said that bowling against Zimbabwe after scoring 254 runs is different from bowling against strong teams like India and South Africa.

"I saw them in South Africa. And I have played a lot of cricket with and against both of them. Amazing spinners. If there's a little bit of something in the wicket, both of them [will exploit it]," du Plessis was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Bigger Challenge Against India and South Africa

Du Plessis added that the real test will come in the next matches. He said playing against strong batting teams, especially those with many left-handers, will challenge the West Indies spinners.

"But the test will come now when they play against a lot of lefties in India, how're they going to respond to that, and South Africa played both of them really well in South Africa," he concluded.

West Indies have won five matches in a row in the T20 World Cup 2026, including their 107-run win over Zimbabwe. They will next face South Africa on February 26 at the Narendra Modi Stadium.