Rossouw blasts century as South Africa crush Bangladesh

Rilee Rossouw

SYDNEY, AFP: Rilee Rossouw blasted 109 and shared in a record-breaking stand with Quinton de Kock as South Africa crushed Bangladesh to kickstart their Twenty20 World Cup title charge in Sydney on Thursday.

The pair came together after Temba Bavuma fell in the first over and powered their team to 205-5. Bangladesh was dismissed for just 101 in the 17th over with Anrich Nortje taking 4-10.

Rossouw and De Kock amassed 168 for the second wicket – the highest-ever T20 World Cup partnership – surpassing the 166 that Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara made against the West Indies in 2010. De Kock fell for 63 but Rossouw charged on, bringing up the first century of the tournament and only the 10th scored at any T20 World Cup.

He was eventually out going for another big hit, ending a 56-ball knock which included eight sixes and seven fours. It was the fifth-highest score at a T20 World Cup.

Bangladesh opened their campaign with a nine-wicket win over the Netherlands, but they have a poor record against top teams at World Cups. Bangladesh’s intent was clear when they began their chase, with the openers taking 17 off the first over from Kagiso Rabada. But the cavalier approach cost them with Nortje picking up two wickets in the same over. Soumya Sarkar (15) edged to wicketkeeper De Kock and Najmul Shanto was clean bowled.

Nortje bagged a third in his next over with Al Hasan trapped lbw for one. Then Rabada took care of Afif Hossain (1), top-edging a pull to Wayne Parnell at mid-off.

It left Bangladesh teetering at 47-4 in the sixth over. Mehidy Hasan lasted 13 balls and Mosaddek Hossain just three before the tail was quickly cleaned up.