South Africa has defeated Bangladesh by 149 runs in their ICC World Cup clash at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The Proteas won the toss, batted first and posted 382 for five in their 50 overs. But they again struggled to bowl out their opponents at the death, after a good start with the ball. Bangladesh was eventually bowled out for 233, with just over three overs to spare.
Having defeated South Africa by 21 runs in the 2019 World Cup in England, Bangladesh started confidently with the ball after the Proteas elected to bat. They took two early wickets, dismissing Reeza Hendricks for 12 and Rassie van der Dussen for one, leaving them on 36 for two by the eighth over.
But Quinton de Kock who has been in prolific form in his final ODI World Cup, again came out wielding the willow for the Proteas. He put on a 131-run partnership with stand-in skipper Aiden Markram, with Markram notching up a half-century.
When Markram departed for 60, the left-hander continued with Heinrich Klaasen. They put on 142 runs for the fourth wicket, with De Kock recording his third century in this World Cup. He was eventually on his way for 174 from just 140 deliveries, the second highest total from a South African batter at a World Cup and the highest individual score in this year’s tournament so far.
He also became the leading run scorer overall, with 407 runs from five matches, 53 runs more than his closest rival, India’s Virat Kohli.
Klassen was also in a belligerent mood. He clubbed 90 runs from just 49 delivers as he and David Miller with a cameo 34 form 15 deliveries added the finishing touches to their innings. They eventually posted a challenging 382 for five in their 50 overs.
Sadly, for Bangladesh fans, their top order didn’t put up much resistance during their chase. Seamer Marco Jansen had them on the ropes early on taking two wickets in consecutive deliveries leaving them on 30 for two in the 10th over.
Lizaard Williams in for Lungi Ngidi who has a niggle, followed that up with the scalp of Shakib Al Hasan for one. Gerald Coetzee and Kagiso Rabada also struck to help reduce Bangladesh to for 58 for five by the 15th over.
But South Africa’s bowlers, just like against the Netherlands and England, again lost their intensity in the middle overs and at the death, failing to close out the innings from a dominant position. They took two more wickets, but Mahmudullah played a brave innings, marshalling the tail enders.
He shared in a 41-run seventh wicket stand with Nasum Ahmed, and then a 37-run partnership with Hasan Mahmud, carving out a half-century. Mahmudullah continued with Mustafizur Rahman, this time in a 68-run ninth wicket stand in the dying overs, converting his 50 to a fighting century to take his side well past the 200 mark. He was eventually dismissed for a run-a-ball 111 before Williams finally took the last scalp handing the South Africans a 149-run victory. The Proteas next match is against Pakistan in Chennai on Friday.
