T20 World Cup 2024: South Africa beat Bangladesh in another low-scoring thriller: No team had ever successfully defended a low total of 113/6 in the history of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, but South Africa’s attack almost guaranteed their spot in the Super 8 stage with their Manhattan miracle.
Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller rescued the Proteas with a 79-run partnership, after which pacers Kagiso Rabada (2/19) and Anrich Nortje (2/17) played a key role in restricting Bangladesh’s batting line-up.
Tauheed Hridoy had almost sealed the win with his brilliant 37 (34) but it all depended on Keshav Maharaj’s dramatic final over. After dismissing Jaker Ali (8 off 9), Maharaj was inches away from delivering the final runs when Mamudullah was dismissed for 20 (27) and Bangladesh needed six runs to win from the final two balls.
And new batsman Taskin Ahmed failed to hit a maximum off the final ball of the innings, allowing South Africa to top Group D with three wins. Bangladesh’s top order put up a tough fight early in their chase, and were 29/1 at the end of the powerplay, with opener Tanzid Hasan (9 off 9) the only batsman to be dismissed, caught behind off Kagiso Rabada. But South Africa’s key bowlers hit back in the middle overs to make the situation exciting.
With his opening delivery, Keshav Maharaj removed Liton Das for 9 off 13 and Anrich Nortje followed suit, removing Shakib Al Hasan (3 off 4) and Nazmul Hossain Shanto (14 off 23).
Tauheed Hridaya’s incredible 37 runs off 34 balls offered the Tigers a fantastic opportunity, but when Rabada got him out LBW and Bangladesh required 20 runs for the loss of five wickets, the game’s momentum changed once more.
Spinner Maharaj delivered the final over of the match, picking up two wickets and bowling full tosses on the final two balls of the innings, enabling South Africa to win by a score of four runs.
How Proteas recovered to score the winning point
Earlier, at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, South Africa chose to bat first after winning the toss against Bangladesh.
After losing four wickets early, Heinrich Klaasen added 46 runs in 44 balls to the scoreboard, and David Miller made a brilliant partnership of 29 runs in 38 balls, which took the Proteas to 113/6. Despite Quinton de Kock scoring ten runs off the first three balls of the innings, the Tigers dominated the first part of the game.
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The majority of the damage was done during the powerplay by Tanjim Hazan Sakib, who removed Reeza Hendricks (0 off 1), de Kock (18 off 11), and Tristan Stubbs (0 off 5). Taskin Ahmed was sent back by skipper Aiden Markram for 4 runs off 8 balls.
And a flurry of early wickets left South Africa 25/4 at the end of the first six overs, but Klaasen and Miller were still out in the middle and looking to mount another rescue act.
The pair put on a solid 79-run stand at a run a ball, helping South Africa reach triple figures. Both set batsmen perished in the death overs as they tried to score quick runs, but a total of 113/6 could prove tricky on a surface that was too friendly to bowlers.
Tanjim Hasan Sakib took 3 for 18 from four overs, while Taskin (2 for 19) and Rishad Hussain (1 for 32) also picked up wickets. South Africa have won three of their three matches so far, but a place in the Super 8 stage is far from assured.
It is quite possible that other results will have cemented the Proteas’ progress even before their final Group D match, but a win over Nepal in St Vincent on Saturday will surely confirm qualification and top spot with a stellar record in the opening stage.
Bangladesh’s focus will now go to their remaining two games, which they will play against Nepal and the Netherlands. Victory in both of those will seal a top two spot, but a win against the Dutch next time out on Thursday could also be enough.
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Source: ICC
