Bangladesh vs South Africa marks the fifth match of the ICC World Cup 2019 and cricket fans are eagerly guessing the outcome of this face off.
There are several factors to take into consideration when trying to evaluate the two teams against each other. On paper, South Africa definitely looks to be the strong contender. Going by their winning streak against Sri Lanka, they are in great form.
Their lacklustre performance against England in the tournament opener cannot be ignored. They outplayed on all fronts, losing with a vast margin of 104 runs at the Kennington Oval. The landslide defeat might have unsettled South Africa but this match could very well be their shot at redemption.
Bangladesh, on the other hand, is the ultimate wildcard team. To say the least, their World Cup record has been a roller coaster ride. They surprised the cricket fans around the world when they made it to the 2015 quarterfinals.
It would be an uphill battle to prove that it wasn’t just a one-time wonder when the team pulled it off. Their loss to India in the warm-up match does not bode well for them. However, they are coming off the tri-series win against Ireland which should help the morale of the team.
The major concern for both the teams would be their constant battle against injuries. Dale Steyn had to sit out against England as the result of a shoulder injury. South Africa may have to forge ahead without Dale against Bangladesh too as Coach Otis Gibson doesn’t want to rush the comeback. This could mean that Dwaine Pretorius would continue with the possible addition of David Miller, as South Africa needs a strong batting side.
Bangladesh isn’t far behind in this struggle. Tamim Iqbal suffered a wrist injury during a training session. Since the extent of the injury is unclear, it could only mean Liton Das will be opening the match with Soumya Sarkar if Tamim is declared unfit. The list of scrutiny involves players like Mohammad Saifuddin, Mahmudullah, Mashrafe Mortaza and Mustafizur Rahman who are all recovering from previous injuries.
On a happier note for South Africa, Quinton de Kock is consistently showing good form and scored 68 runs in the first match against England. If his wicket had not been taken, things might have turned out differently for the team. Captain Faf du Plessis also showed promise when he hit 88 runs in the warm-up match against Sri Lanka. Rassie van der Dussen scored a 50 in the opener. If these players continue their form, SA might take the cup home.
For Bangladesh, Soumya Sarkar keeps the hope alive as he is in great batting form. Tamim Iqbal will also look to cement his legacy which currently claims 11 ODI centuries. Captain Mortaza might be suffering from a hamstring strain but his six wickets at the Ireland series prove that he can be a lethal competitor.
The pitch is a favourable one to put up a big score. After England scored 311, it will be interesting to see if the score bounces that height again.
Also read: ‘The myth of the most challenging World Cup and its many victims’