South Africa dismantle Bangladesh

Beat the Bangla Tigers by 6 wickets in Abu Dhabi

South Africa dismantle Bangladesh
©T20 World Cup

ABU DHABI: South Africa defeated Bangladesh in their ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 Super 12 match to stay in the top two in Group 1.

Kagiso Rabada led a South African display of quality pace bowling that bowled Bangladesh out for 84 and set up a six-wicket win at Abu Dhabi's Zayed Cricket Stadium.

Despite losing three early wickets, a 47-run partnership for the fourth wicket got them over the line in 13.3 overs, giving their net run rate a boost as well.

The win was set up earlier by the pace bowlers, who took advantage of conditions that aided pace and bounce.

In the Powerplay, Rabada took three wickets in five balls, while Tabraiz Shamsi took 2/21 and Anrich Nortje finished the innings for 3/8.

There was some pressure on Rabada going into this game, as he had only taken two wickets and had gone for 32 runs against Sri Lanka. But he quickly put any doubts to rest with a ferocious performance with the new ball in the first innings.

With a layer of dry grass on the surface and some assistance expected for the pacers, Temba Bavuma chose to bowl. While he then opened with Keshav Maharaj's left-arm spin, it was Rabada who got the breakthroughs in his second over.

Mohammad Naim took a catch at midwicket, but Soumya Sarkar followed him back the next ball, trapped in front by a beauty. Rabada bowled full, almost at a yorker length, and got the left-hander to move late. Sarkar was struck on the boot, and the wicket was awarded after a review.

Rabada could have had a hat-trick in his next over, but the ball fell a few yards in front of the fielder at point.

But he only needed two more balls to get his third: Mushfiqur Rahim was caught off guard by the bounce, and Reeza Hendricks at gully held on for a good catch.

Bangladesh had endured another disappointing period of batting under fielding restrictions when they were 28/3 in the Powerplay. And it didn't get any easier. South Africa's in-form bowlers found good pace, bounce, and movement and were rewarded for it.

Nortje struck out Mahmudullah with a short pitch that rose on him, forcing the batter to fend and glove a catch.

Then, Afif Hossain missed his first ball, attempting to swing hard, and the ball from Dwaine Pretorius thudded off his pad onto the wicket.

Even as wickets fell around him, opener Liton Das held firm after getting started with a four through covers off Rabada. Shamsi, on the other hand, only needed three deliveries to put him down.

Mahedi Hasan entertained Bangladesh fans with an aggressive 27 off 25 balls. Among his three boundaries was a six over cover off Shamsi.

But, after him, the inning was over in a flash. A hit wicket dismissal to end the batting effort reflected their day's bad luck.

South Africa were rocked early by Taskin Ahmed, who enjoyed the conditions as much as the opposition bowlers and got good movement with the new ball despite being given a low total to chase.

Taskin recovered from being hit for four to lbw Reeza Hendricks with one that moved back in.

Quinton de Kock then attacked Mahedi Hasan's spin for two boundaries before the bowler returned with a slower, straighter delivery to bowl him.

Taskin bowled a good line and length to draw an edge from Aiden Markram, which the slip fielder pouched to send him back before scoring.

By the eighth over, the pacer had been bowled out for an excellent 2/18.

South Africa were under more pressure than they would have expected at 33/3 in the Powerplay, but with boundaries coming infrequently, the asking rate was never an issue.

Bavuma's (31* off 28) and Rassie van der Dussen's (31* off 28) cool heads were required to knock off the remaining runs. Van der Dussen was out trying to end the innings early in order to boost the net run rate, but David Miller hit the winning run.

Bangladesh, who still have no points, are mathematically ruled out of progressing to the next round as a result of this loss. South Africa will play England in their final Super 12 game to secure a place in the semi-finals.

Edited - SportsAction / Inputs - T20 World Cup