South Africa defeated Bangladesh by just four runs in another low-scoring T20 World Cup game on Monday, a result likely to spark fresh debate over the suitability of the pitch used in New York. South Africa were restricted to 113-6 from their 20 overs, with Heinrich Klaasen top-scoring 46, while fast bowler Tanzim Hasan Sakib returned a career-best 3-18. However, Bangladesh could only manage 109-7 in response as South Africa recorded their third victory in three Group D games.
“It wasn’t pleasant to watch, it was good that the boys pushed the limits,” said Klaasen. “The wicket is not very good for putting.”
Chasing just 114 to win on the controversial Nassau County International Cricket Stadium track, Bangladesh initially struggled against the Proteas’ pace battery.
They were 50-4 at the 10-over mark, having lost Tanzid Hasan (nine) to Kagiso Rabada, while Anrich Nortje accounted for captain Najmul Hossain Shanto (14) and Shakib Al Hasan (three). Spinner Keshav Maharaj sent back Liton Das for just nine.
However, Towhid Hridoy, who top-scored with 40 when Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka in their opener, and 38-year-old Mahmudullah have steadied the ship for the Tigers.
The pair put on 44 for the fifth wicket before Hridoy went to Rabada for 37, an innings that consumed 34 balls and featured two fours and two sixes. Bangladesh took seven off the penultimate over but still needed 11 off the last to be bowled by Maharaj.
That became seven from four balls. With the pressure mounting, Jaker Ali and Mahmudullah were caught by Aiden Markram in big drives at long off.
Needing six off the final ball, Taskin Ahmed could only produce a single scrambled ball.
‘Should have won’
“I think this is a match we should have won. In the last few overs they played well, but that can happen in cricket,” Shanto said.
Earlier, Bangladesh restricted South Africa to 113-6, with Tanzim supported by Taskin’s 2-19, after Proteas captain Markram won the toss and opted to bat. South Africa were struggling at 23-4 at one point before Klaasen and David Miller, celebrating his 35th birthday, came to their team’s rescue with a partnership of 79 for the fifth wicket.
Klaasen’s 46 came off 44 balls with two fours and three sixes before being run out by Taskin, crossing the line in the 18th over with the score 102.
Miller, who made an unbeaten 59 in the nervy victory over Holland, struck four runs later, bowled by Rishad Hossain.
His innings of 29 came from 38 boundary deliveries and one six. The Proteas were 12-4 against the Dutch at the same ground on Saturday.
On Monday, they quickly lost four times for just 23 runs in the fifth over, thanks to Tanzim and Taskin. Tanzim, playing in just his eighth T20 international, began the collapse, having out-of-form opener Reeza Hendricks lbw for nothing off his first ball.
Star batsman Quinton de Kock was next to go, bowled cleanly by the 21-year-old for 18 with the total being 19. Taskin ripped off Markram’s stumps (four) before Tanzim grabbed the third of his opening spell when he forced Tristan Stubbs to feed a ball to Shakib Al Hasan at covers without scoring.
Miller could have been dismissed in the 13th over, but wicketkeeper Liton Das lost lead off Mahmudullah’s first ball.
With South Africa all but certain of a place in the second round of the Super Eight, Bangladesh, with two points, is still well placed to join them.
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