* Proteas pull off sensational 4 run win (Match 21)
By Dwayne Ferreira
South Africa continued their unbeaten streak against Bangladesh in T20 internationals, beating the Tigers by 4 runs in Group D of the T20 World Cup.
However, It wasn’t all fun for the Proteas, certainly not an easy day at the crease for the men in green. Their recent track record at Nassau County in New York was what made them favorites going into the match, but Bangladesh had a few tricks up their sleeves.
Bangladesh’s ability to immediately put South Africa under pressure was a turning point in the game, with early wickets hindering the powerhouse batting line up and making the game just a little more interesting.
Unfortunately Bangladesh failed to capitalize on key moments, eventually costing them the game and their chances of making it into the Super 8’s. South Africa fought back valiantly after being backed into a corner early on, setting a target of 114 and then defending it in a heart pounding run chase.
Aiden Markram decided to bat first after winning the toss, and given their recent experiences at Nassau County, came as quite a shock to most experts.
Having won both their matches at the venue bowling first, the Proteas took to the crease and soon found out why teams like Sri Lanka, Netherlands and India struggled to open the scoring in previous fixtures.
The unpredictability of the pitch and slow outfield did not help their cause, as Bangladeshi opening bowlers Tanzim Sakib and Taskin Ahmed pounded away at turf. Their incredibly precise lengths, optimal for the situation, helped Bangladesh pick up 4 very important wickets for only 24 runs by the end of the fifth over.
The Proteas who were the favorites going into the match, soon realised that they had made a grave mistake and had it not been for Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller knowing their roles and how to play in difficult situations, South Africa may have stumbled to one of the lowest scores in the competition.
Fortunately, Klassen’s crucial knock of 46 and David Millers composed 29, got South Africa to a total of 113 for 6, giving the Proteas a sliver of hope.
With a target 114, Bangladesh looked comfortable in the opening stages of the run chase, but soon encountered similar problems with picking up length and too lost crucial wickets early on.
South Africa experienced opening bowlers and spin wizard Maharaj squeezed 4 wickets out of the Tigers in the first 10 overs, taking the fight right to their opposition.
Much like Klaasen and Miller in the first half, Bangladesh’s Towhid Hridoy and Mahmudullah were landed with the steep task of holding on to wickets in the middle phase, while doing their best to keep up with the required run rate.
Hridoy played exceptionally well to get Bangladesh into the death with 20 runs needed in the final 3 overs, but had to depart after being dismissed by Rabada.
With the pressure building as the overs ticked away, Bangladesh’s hopes slowly began to fade as South Africa gradually piling on the dot balls while their fielders gave their all, both inside the 30 and out of it.
The game rolled down to the wire, with Bangladesh managing to take the game deep, needing 6 runs in the final two deliveries, with Mahmadullah on strike.
His plans to slog one over the ropes however proved fatal, finding the hands of David Miller down at long on. A metre short of a great victory, Maharaj was then able to flight the last ball into the new batsmen, stopping him from playing a winning six, and claiming yet another two points for South Africa in the competition.
Mahraj ended the match with the best bowling figures for South Africa, picking up 3 for 27 and doing brilliantly in bowling the final over with 11 runs needed. Anrich Nortje also boasted figures of 2 for 17, doing well to hold off Bangladesh in the middle phases.
However, the Player of the Match award was awarded to Heinrich Klaasen for his 47, inclusive of 2 fours and 3 sixes when South Africa looked beaten at all ends.
Chief Scores :-
South Africa – 113 for 6 in 20 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 46, David Miller 29, Quinton De Kock 18, Tanzim Sakib 3 for 18, Tasin Ahmed 2 for 19)
Bangladesh – 109 for 7 in 20 overs (Towhid Hridoy 37, Mahmudullah 20, Najmul Hossain Shanto 14, Keshav Maharaj 3 for 27, Anrich Nortje 2 for 17)
Player of the Match: Heinrich Klaasen (47)
