South Africa beat Bangladesh in thriller to qualify for Super Eights

In a thrilling Group D match played at New York on Monday, South Africa sneaked in a four-run win over a gallant Bangladesh to record their third win in the ongoing T20 World Cup and ensure themselves a place in the Super Eights.

Bangladesh with three wickets in hand required a six off the final ball of the match bowled by spinner Keshav Maharaj but Taskin Ahmed was not upto the task as he could get only a single to hand South Africa victory. In a low scoring game that swayed from one side to the other it was South Africa who kept their nerve to pull off a win.

Bangladesh’s hopes rested on the experienced Mahmudullah who had pulled them out of many such tight situations. The penultimate ball bowled by Maharaj was hit high over the bowler’s head and was heading for a six but it ended in the hands of Aiden Markram at long-on which stunned the crowd and saw Mahmudullah stand transfixed unable to believe that his shot had failed to clear the boundary.

Splendid bowling by Bangladesh, strangled South Africa’s batting and kept them down to a total of 113-6, this despite a record fifth wicket 79-run partnership for South Africa between Hienrich Klaasen (46 off 44 balls, 2 fours, 3 sixes) and David Miller (28 off 38 balls).

At the halfway mark Bangladesh had lost four wickets for 50, but Towhid Hridoy (37 off 34 balls, 2 fours, 2 sixes) and Mahmudullah (20) kept Bangladesh’s chances of reaching the target alive with some sensible batting. However Kagiso Rabada coming for his final over trapped Hridoy lbw and Maharaj dismissed Jaker Ali and Mahmudullah in the final over to seal the match in South Africa’s favour.

Scores: South Africa 113-6 (20) (Hienrich Klaasen 46, David Miller 29, Tanzim Hasan 3/18, Taskin Ahmed 2/19)

Bangladesh 109-7 (20) (Towhid Hridoy 37, Mahmudullah 20, Kagiso Rabada 2/19, Keshav Maharaj 3/27, Ainrich Nortje 2/17)