NEW YORK: Heinrich Klaasen’s 46-run knock, followed by Keshav Maharaj’s last-over heroice helped South Africa register a narrow four-run victory over Bangladesh in a thrilling ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 clash here on Monday.
With this victory, South Africa booked their place in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup 2024, having six points from three games.
Chasing a modest target of 114, Bangladesh managed only 109 courtesy of Maharaj’s double-wicket last over.
Bangladesh lost the opening batter Tanzid Hasan in the second over with nine runs on the board.
Najmul Hossain Shanto then added 20 runs from 25 balls with Litton Das (9) for the second wicket before Maharaj struck to remove the latter.
Meanwhile, Anrich Nortje dismissed Shakib Al Hasan (3) and Shanto in consecutive overs to reduce Bangladesh to 50-4 in 9.5 overs. Shanto scored a scratchy 23-ball 14.
Towhid Hridoy and Mahmdullah then attempted to bring Bangladesh back into the match with a 44-run partnership from 45 balls.
With 20 required off 18 balls, Bangladesh looked like favourites to win the game, however, South African bowlers pulled things to clinch a thrilling victory.
Kagiso Rabada dismissed Hridoy on the first ball of the 18th over and gave away only two runs in the over, leaving Bangladesh to chase 18 off 12.
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Hridoy top-scored for Bangladesh with a 37-run knock from 34 balls, laced with two boundaries and two sixes.
Ottneil Baartman gave seven runs in the penultimate over and left 11 runs to defend in the last over.
Maharaj brilliantly defended the target, giving away only six runs and taking two wickets to steer his side to the Super Eight stage of the tournament.
The left-arm spinner topped the bowling chart for South Africa with figures of 3-27, while Rabada and Nortje claimed two wickets.
South Africa opted to bat first, however, the decision backfired as Bangladesh reduced the batting side to 23-4 in the fifth over, with pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib taking three early wickets.
Klaasen and David Miller (29) then joined hands to help South Africa recover with a 79-run stand for the fifth wicket.
Klaasen played a gritty knock of 46 runs from 44 balls with the help of three sixes and two boundaries before Taskin Ahmed castled him in the 18th over.
Except for Klaasen, Miller, and Quinton de Kock (18), no other batter managed to reach double figures as South Africa set Bangladesh to chase 114.
Sakib led the bowling charts for Bangladesh with figures of 3-18, while Ahmed took two wickets.
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