South Africa lost 2 wickets for 36 runs after winning the toss and batting against Bangladesh in their fifth World Cup match. They lost 2 wickets by just 3 runs. But after that, South Africa turned around with the pair of Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram.
Shakib Al Hasan finally broke this pair which was gradually becoming terrifying for Bangladesh.
Aiden Markram took a long-on catch off Shakib Al Hasan for the team’s 167 runs. Liton Das at long on palmed the catch. As a result, he returned with 60 runs off 69 balls. The pair of 131 runs broke on his departure.
Quinton de Kock and Reza Hendricks opened for South Africa today. From the beginning, these two openers continued to attack the Bangladeshi bowlers.
Bangladesh missed the catch at the very beginning of the match. This right-arm off-spinner Mehdi Hasan Miraj created the possibility of a wicket in his first over. On the fifth ball of the second over of the innings, the ball hit the outside edge of Hendricks’ bat and went to first slip. But the ball goes so fast that the ball hits Tanjid Tamim’s shoulder before he can raise his hand.
Hendricks was becoming more terrifying as he got alive. Finally, Shariful Islam returned him.
Hendricks returned to the dressing room after being bowled by Shariful. He made 22 off 21 balls before getting out. On his departure, the Proteas lost their first wicket for 33 runs.
After Hendricks, Mirage brings back Rassie van der Dusen. Rasi van der Dusen returned with 1 run from 7 balls after being LBW by Mirage. On his departure, South Africa lost 2 wickets for 36 runs.
Quinton de Kock paired with Aiden Markram after losing 2 wickets for 36 runs. The disaster was overcome by relying on this pair
In between, Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram took individual half-centuries. Today, Quinton de Kock scored 50 runs off 47 balls, including 3 fours and 3 sixes.
And Markram brought up a personal fifty off 57 balls. Shakib didn’t let his innings go too far despite picking up a half-century. He sent him back for 60 runs.
There is a change in the Bangladesh XI today. Captain Shakib Al Hasan has returned to the team instead of Tauheed Hriday. Meanwhile, there is a change in the South African team as well. Lizad Williams replaced Ngidi in the squad.
Bangladesh have won all three of their last four ODIs against South Africa. Shakib’s team can draw inspiration from such an equation. Bangladesh-South Africa have faced each other in 4 matches since the 2019 World Cup. Bangladesh played a bilateral ODI series against South Africa in the last World Cup and then in 2022.
Bangladesh beat South Africa by 21 runs in the World Cup match. After that match, Bangladesh created history by winning the three-match ODI series 2-1 in the tour of South Africa last year. In other words, the Tigers have a 3-1 lead against the Proteas in the last four matches between the two teams, which will give additional motivation to the Bangladesh team before the match.
The Tigers have won 6 matches against the Proteas’ 18 wins in ODI matches between the two teams so far.
Bangladesh XI: Tanjid Hasan, Liton Das, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Mehdi Hasan Miraj, Mushfiqur Rahim (wicketkeeper), Mahmudullah, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shariful Islam, Hasan Mahmud
South Africa XI: Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Reza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dusen, Aiden Markram (captain), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Janssen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lizad Williams
(October 24/NBW)