Team play, power-hitting help Bangladesh deliver Proteas their 2nd WC loss

The wait for a ‘competitive’ match at the ICC World Cup 2019 finally ended as a team effort from Bangladesh meant that they defeated South Africa by 21 runs at the Oval on Sunday (June 2).

Bangladesh opened their campaign with a comprehensive win over the World No. 3 side. The 2015 quarter-finalist’s win was constituted by a fair share of senior contributors as fifties from Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim helped them register the country’s highest ever ODI total.

Bangladesh, who were asked to bat as the Proteas won the toss, put up fifty on the board inside eight overs as Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar gave them a steady start. South Africa’s new ball bowlers, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi were put away with ease and hardly threatened the Asian side’s openers. The openers fell to bouncers of Phehlukwayo and Morris but that didn’t affect the experienced duo of Shakib and Mushfiqur as they consolidated the foundation laid by the openers, notching up 142 for the third wicket. Mahmudullah who scored 46 off 33 and made most of the reprieve he got as he was dropped on 11. Mahmudullah’s finishing touch meant that Bangladesh got over 50 runs in the last four overs.

As for South Africa, things started on a negative note even before the first ball was bowled as Hashim Amla was injured and David Miller replaced him in the XI. Ngidi’s injury didn’t do any good to them as Aiden Markram and Duminy bowled overs for them.

The chase was always in Bangladesh’s control as Quinton De Kock was dismissed with the team total, a run short of 50. Faf came in at No. 3 but failed to play a Captain’s knock and was dismissed by the young but smart Mehidy Hasan.

Duminy gave the SA fans something to cheer with hits in the latter part of the innings but disciplined Bangladesh bowling meant that they scored 309, falling short to Bangladesh’s 330.

South Africa now play the tournament’s most awaited match as they take on India at Southampton on Wednesday while Bangladesh play New Zealand on the same day at the Oval.

Also read: Bangladesh vs South Africa: Fight of the underdogs 

World Cup: Amla could be fit for India clash 

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