SYDNEY: Rilee Rossouw smashed the first century of the tournament as he guided South Africa to post the highest innings score of the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 – 205/5 – before Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi stormed through the Bangladesh batting line to seal a comprehensive 104-run victory, here on Thursday.
Rossouw thrashed the Bangladesh bowlers to every part of the ground as he blasted a powerful knock of 56-ball 109 laced with eight huge sixes and seven fours to steer Proteas to a dominant win
Opener Quinton de Kock, however, combined excellently with Rossouw for the highest-ever T20 World Cup partnership as they hoisted 163 runs for the second wicket after skipper Temba Bavuma (2 off 6) fell cheaply in the very first over bowled by Taskin Ahmed.
The Wicket-keeper batter also showed some great muscles as he cracked three sixes and seven fours during his blistering knock of 63 off 38 before he was removed by Afif Hossain in the 15th over.
Set to chase 206, Bangladesh were bowled out for a paltry 101-run total after sensational bowling from pacer Nortje who grabbed four wickets while spinner Tabraiz Shamsi took three scalps.
Nortje ran through the top order as he struck down both the openers Najmul Shanto (9 off 9) and Soumya Sarkar (15 off 6) in the third over before making another scare in his next over when he got rid of skipper Shakib Al Hasan (1 off 4) cheaply.
No 4 batter Litton Das top-scored for his side with his cautious knock of 31-ball 34 amid an unimpressive batting display by Bangladesh as seven of their batters failed to make it into double figures.
The only positive for the losing side throughout the game was their very tight bowling in the last five overs when they offered just 29 runs while snatching three wickets. Skipper Shakib had two strikes as he dismissed Tristan Stubbs (7 off 7) cheaply before getting rid of danger man Rossouw in the penultimate over.
