New York: Spinner Keshav Maharaj was lucky to defend 11 runs in the final over as South Africa defeated Bangladesh by just four runs in another low-scoring thriller at the T20 World Cup here on Monday.
In a match where fortunes were swinging from one side to the other, Bangladesh fought bravely till the end on the back of strong innings from Mahmudullah (20) and Tauheed Hridoy (37), but chasing a modest target of 114 runs, Could not land the fatal punch in the 20th over.
With six runs needed off the last two balls, Mahmudullah was brilliantly caught near the ropes by Aiden Markram off the bowling of Keshav Maharaj (3/27), South Africa's most successful bowler. The left-arm spinner bowled three full tosses in the final over but Bangladesh batsmen were unable to stop them and the score ended at 109 for seven.
Anrich Nortje (2/17) continued to make the most of his form and Kagiso Rabada (2/19) and Marco Janssen (0/17) provided strong support.After batting first on a challenging pitch, South Africa scored 113 runs for six wickets.
Tanzeed Hasan (9) was out early in the run chase after hitting a few fours, while neither their captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto (14 of 23) nor Liton Das (9 of 13) could get off to a good start.
Shakib Al Hasan (3) also lost Nortje's pace when the right-handed batsman bowled a short ball and the Bangladesh all-rounder lofted one high into the air.
Struggling at 50 for four, Bangladesh got an excellent partnership between Tauheed Hridoy and Mahmudullah, who added 44 runs for the fifth wicket to take their team closer to the finish line.
Hridoy, who started with a six, did well in handling the pressure along with Mahmudullah.The pair continued to reduce the target by picking up the odd boundary along with smart rotation of the strike, indicating that wickets were indeed the reward for those who were able to vary their approach.
It seemed that Bangladesh was moving towards the target, but the direction of the game changed when Hridayoy was dismissed by Rabada in the 18th over.
Earlier in the first half, fast bowlers Tanzim Hasan Saqib and Taskin Ahmed excelled in favorable conditions and helped Bangladesh restrict South Africa to a lower score than usual.
Tanzim (3/18) defeated the Proteas top order in the company of Taskin (2/19), while Mustafizur (0/18) also played his part well and Bangladesh held on despite strong resistance from Heinrich Klaasen (46) and David Despite this, there was a mass demonstration. Miller (29).Klaasen and Miller looked to rescue South Africa from a poor start by putting on 79 runs for the fifth wicket, but the pair could never gain momentum on a two-paced wicket, which Bangladesh's spinners also showed control over.
Tanzim struck three times in his opening burst, leaving South Africa at 23 for four in the first five overs.
While Quinton de Kock (18) showed aggressive intent by hitting a six and a four off the right-arm bowler in the opening exchanges, Tanzim quickly amended his line and length and hit Reeza Hendricks in front of the stumps for a golden duck. ,
In fact, his simple but effective strategy of bowling on the wickets paid high dividends as Tanzim clean bowled South Africa captain Aiden Markram (4), who came down a bit awkwardly with his bat, straight away. Missed the shot.
Tristan Stubbs (0) did a good job of rebuilding the innings for South Africa in his last match against the Netherlands, but the right-handed batsman also suffered an easy dismissal.Klaasen hit a few sixes against the Bangladesh spinners and pushed them back while Miller was content to rotate the strike. However, he was clean bowled by Taskin at the end of the innings after an innings of 44 balls with two fours and three sixes.
Klaasen and Miller found it difficult to score runs on the Nassau County pitch as they were forced to curb their aggressive tendencies.
In a match where fortunes were swinging from one side to the other, Bangladesh fought bravely till the end on the back of strong innings from Mahmudullah (20) and Tauheed Hridoy (37), but chasing a modest target of 114 runs, Could not land the fatal punch in the 20th over.
With six runs needed off the last two balls, Mahmudullah was brilliantly caught near the ropes by Aiden Markram off the bowling of Keshav Maharaj (3/27), South Africa's most successful bowler. The left-arm spinner bowled three full tosses in the final over but Bangladesh batsmen were unable to stop them and the score ended at 109 for seven.
Anrich Nortje (2/17) continued to make the most of his form and Kagiso Rabada (2/19) and Marco Janssen (0/17) provided strong support.After batting first on a challenging pitch, South Africa scored 113 runs for six wickets.
Tanzeed Hasan (9) was out early in the run chase after hitting a few fours, while neither their captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto (14 of 23) nor Liton Das (9 of 13) could get off to a good start.
Shakib Al Hasan (3) also lost Nortje's pace when the right-handed batsman bowled a short ball and the Bangladesh all-rounder lofted one high into the air.
Struggling at 50 for four, Bangladesh got an excellent partnership between Tauheed Hridoy and Mahmudullah, who added 44 runs for the fifth wicket to take their team closer to the finish line.
Hridoy, who started with a six, did well in handling the pressure along with Mahmudullah.The pair continued to reduce the target by picking up the odd boundary along with smart rotation of the strike, indicating that wickets were indeed the reward for those who were able to vary their approach.
It seemed that Bangladesh was moving towards the target, but the direction of the game changed when Hridayoy was dismissed by Rabada in the 18th over.
Earlier in the first half, fast bowlers Tanzim Hasan Saqib and Taskin Ahmed excelled in favorable conditions and helped Bangladesh restrict South Africa to a lower score than usual.
Tanzim (3/18) defeated the Proteas top order in the company of Taskin (2/19), while Mustafizur (0/18) also played his part well and Bangladesh held on despite strong resistance from Heinrich Klaasen (46) and David Despite this, there was a mass demonstration. Miller (29).Klaasen and Miller looked to rescue South Africa from a poor start by putting on 79 runs for the fifth wicket, but the pair could never gain momentum on a two-paced wicket, which Bangladesh's spinners also showed control over.
Tanzim struck three times in his opening burst, leaving South Africa at 23 for four in the first five overs.
While Quinton de Kock (18) showed aggressive intent by hitting a six and a four off the right-arm bowler in the opening exchanges, Tanzim quickly amended his line and length and hit Reeza Hendricks in front of the stumps for a golden duck. ,
In fact, his simple but effective strategy of bowling on the wickets paid high dividends as Tanzim clean bowled South Africa captain Aiden Markram (4), who came down a bit awkwardly with his bat, straight away. Missed the shot.
Tristan Stubbs (0) did a good job of rebuilding the innings for South Africa in his last match against the Netherlands, but the right-handed batsman also suffered an easy dismissal.Klaasen hit a few sixes against the Bangladesh spinners and pushed them back while Miller was content to rotate the strike. However, he was clean bowled by Taskin at the end of the innings after an innings of 44 balls with two fours and three sixes.
Klaasen and Miller found it difficult to score runs on the Nassau County pitch as they were forced to curb their aggressive tendencies.
