South Africa edge past Bangladesh in low-scoring thriller

The Proteas defended 113 - their lowest defence in a full 20 overs - to secure their third victory on the trot

Ciaran McCarthy | 10/06/2024 at 19:16

New York: South Africa 113-6, Bangladesh 109-7 - South Africa won by four runs

South Africa defended 113 runs to edge past Bangladesh in a nervy, low-scoring thriller, to all but book their place in the Super 8s.

It's their lowest defence in a 20-over game in which they have played the full allocation.

Keshav Maharaj (3 for 27) took two wickets in the process of defending 11 runs from the final over to ensure the Proteas won their latest Men's T20 World Cup match.

A fiery spell from Anrich Nortje (2 for 17) accounted for Najmul Hossain Shanto and Shakib Al Hasan, and Kagiso Rabada took 2 for 19, ensuring Bangladesh could not reach the required total.

Earlier on, South Africa were all at sea with the bat, as other than a salvo encompassing a four and two sixes from Quinton De Kock (18) none of the top order managed to make any real contributions.

After the Proteas were reduced to 4 for 23 - Tanzim Hasan Sakib ripping through them with 3 for 18 - a solid partnership from Heinrich Klaasen (46) and the hero from the last match, David Miller (29), helped them to reach the 100-run mark.

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^{Heinrich Klaasen helped the Proteas to 113 (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)}

The pair combined for 79, but just after the 100 was put on the board, both saw the need to plant the pedal to the floor, and fell in doing so.

Klaasen was bowled by a Taskin Ahmed slower ball he tried to hit over the leg side, and Miller fell in the same fashion to leg-spinner Rishad Hossain, trying to play an expansive shot with the spin.

Taskin had already taken the wicket of Aiden Markram, for just four, and the scalp of Klaasen became his second of the game, on the way to figures of 2 for 19; Rishad returned 1 for 32, and was the only Bangladeshi to go at more than six an over.

But while Bangladesh found themselves in a similar scenario at the back end, after 37 runs from Towhid Hridoy and 20 from Mahmudullad, they were unable to punish a couple of Maharaj full tosses in the final over, falling agonisingly short.

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