NEW YORK – A gripping contest at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium saw South Africa secure a hard-fought 4-run victory over Bangladesh in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. The match, characterized by a low-scoring struggle and a tense finish, showcased the importance of every run in the shortest format of the game.expand_more
South Africa’s Gritty Batting Display
Electing to bat first, South Africa faced an early setback, losing Quinton de Kock (18 runs) after a promising start. The Bangladeshi bowlers, led by a fiery Tanzim Hasan Sakib (3/18) and the ever-reliable Taskin Ahmed (2/19), applied relentless pressure, restricting the scoring opportunities.expand_more
Heinrich Klaasen (46 runs) and David Miller (29 runs) formed a crucial partnership, rescuing the Proteas from a precarious position. Their 79-run stand provided the much-needed impetus, pushing South Africa to a defendable total of 113 runs.expand_more
Bangladesh’s Spirited Chase
Chasing 114 for victory, Bangladesh began their innings cautiously. Najmul Hossain Shanto (14 runs) and Towhid Hridoy (37 runs) showed glimpses of promise, but the South African bowlers, spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada (2/19) and Keshav Maharaj (3/27), maintained a tight leash on the scoring rate.expand_more
Mahmudullah (20 runs) attempted to accelerate the innings in the latter stages, but wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals. The match went down to the wire, with Bangladesh needing 11 runs off the final over. However, Keshav Maharaj held his nerve, conceding only 7 runs and picking up two crucial wickets to seal the victory for South Africa.expand_more
Maharaj’s Final Over Heroics
Keshav Maharaj emerged as the hero for South Africa, defending a modest total with a display of exceptional bowling under immense pressure. His variations and accuracy in the final over proved too much for the Bangladeshi batsmen, as he snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
Scorecard Summary
- South Africa: 113/7 (20 overs)
- Heinrich Klaasen 46 (44)
- David Miller 29 (38)
- Tanzim Hasan Sakib 3/18 (4 overs)
- Taskin Ahmed 2/19 (4 overs)expand_more
- Bangladesh: 109/7 (20 overs)
- Towhid Hridoy 37 (34)
- Mahmudullah 20 (27)
- Keshav Maharaj 3/27 (4 overs)
- Kagiso Rabada 2/19 (4 overs)expand_more
Result: South Africa won by 4 runs.expand_more
Player of the Match: Keshav Maharaj
Key Takeaways
- This match highlighted the importance of tight bowling and disciplined batting in low-scoring T20 encounters.
- Keshav Maharaj’s final over heroics proved to be the defining moment of the match.
- Both teams displayed resilience and fighting spirit, making for a thrilling contest.
- The victory solidifies South Africa’s position in the group stage, while Bangladesh will need to bounce back in their remaining matches.
Detailed Scorecard:
Did not bat: Rabada, Nortje, Ottneil Baartman Fall of wickets: 11-1 (Reeza Hendricks, 0.6), 19-2 (de Kock, 2.3), 23-3 (Markram, 3.5), 23-4 (Tristan Stubbs, 4.2), 102-5 (Klaasen, 17.3), 106-6 (David Miller, 18.2)
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Detailed Scorecard:
Did not bat: Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mustafizur Rahman Fall of wickets: 9-1 (Tanzid Hasan, 1.6), 29-2 (Litton Das, 6.1), 37-3 (Shakib Al Hasan, 7.4), 50-4 (Najmul Hossain Shanto, 9.5), 94-5 (Towhid Hridoy, 17.1), 107-6 (Jaker Ali, 19.3), 108-7 (Mahmudullah, 19.5)
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