That “Toss win, batting first” script. De Kock scored another hundred. Klaasen power hitting. All the bowlers chipped away with wickets. It was a good day at the office for South Africans, whose high level of performance is becoming menacingly familiar at this World Cup. Bangladesh never stood a chance against a side imbued with togetherness and camaraderie. Is it finally the year for the Proteas?

Team Lineups

South African skipper Temba Bavuma still misses out due to illness. Reeza Hendricks retains his spot in the team. Lungi Ngidi is out with a niggle, and Lizaad Williams takes his place for his debut match at the World Cups. 

Bangladeshi fans welcomed their hero and talisman Shakib Al Hasan back to the playing XI. Misfiring youngster Towhid Hridoy is benched for this important game. 

South Africa

1. Quinton de Kock (WK) 2. Reeza Hendricks 3. Rassie van der Dussen 4. Aiden Markram (Cap.) 5. Heinrich Klaasen 6. David Miller 7. Marco Jansen 8. Gerald Coetzee 9. Keshav Maharaj 10. Kagiso Rabada 11. Lizaad Williams

Bangladesh

1. Tanzid Hasan Tamim 2. Liton Das 3. Najmul Hossain Shanto 4. Mehidy Hasan Miraz 5. Shakib Al Hasan (Cap.) 6. Mushfiqur Rahim (WK) 7. Mahmudullah 8. Nasum Ahmed 9. Shoriful Islam 10. Mustafizur Rahman 11. Hasan Mahmud

South African stand-in captain Aiden Markram won the coin toss and elected to bat first. The Wankhede track seemed to be in perfect condition for batting. The humid conditions would challenge the endurance and fitness levels of the players. 

Captaincy & Tactics

Shakib Al Hasan opted for a continuous spin attack from one end in the form of Mehidy Hasan Miraz. The off-spinner kept things tight with tidy bowling and picked up the important wicket of Rassie van der Dussen. Shoriful was brought into the attack early on after a short spell by Mustafizur Rahman. 

The 22-year-old pace bowler had an immediate impact with an inswinging delivery disrupting the stumps of Reeza Hendricks. De Kock and Aiden Markram might be the most in-form batters of the tournament, and their hot streak continued. They started to nullify the spinners by playing them along the ground. 

Then Heinrich Klaasen came and fired straight away. The Bangladeshi pace bowlers’ inexperience showed with a lot of loose deliveries outside the off stump and full tosses. The lack of depth in the death overs threw Bangladesh away from the game. 

South African pace bowlers used their height to bounce Bangladesh into trouble. The plan worked to perfection, and Bangladesh were reduced to 81/6 in no time. Mahmudullah started to counterpunch by playing the ball deep into his crease. His run-a-ball fourth century demonstrated how good the pitch was for batting. 

Batting Analysis

Quinton de Kock might be retiring from the ODIs after this tournament, but he is making sure it will be his most memorable one. The left-hander posted the highest-ever score by a wicketkeeper at the World Cup (174). De Kock now has the 2nd most centuries by a wicketkeeper-batsman with 3, only behind Kumar Sangakkara, who has 5. De Kock enjoys his batting at the Indian soil; he has scored 5 centuries in just 13 innings. De Kock (407) also overtook Kohli (354) to take the top spot in the list of run scores at this World Cup.

Heinrich Klaasen dismantled the Bangladeshi bowling attack with 8 sixes in another blitzkrieg innings. The right-hander is having an amazing 2023, scoring 815 runs, which include three hundreds and 2 fifties. Klaasen now has the second-highest number of sixes (15) along with his teammate Quinton de Kock, only behind Rohit Sharma (17).

David Miller was showing his amazing power ability during the deathovers. The southpaw batter scored at an amazing strike rate of 226.67 in his innings of 34 runs. South Africa were looking at a score of 330+ when they reached 200 runs on the 37th over. But the best was reserved for the last, with 144 runs scored, the ball being smashed all over the Wankhede stands. The last 5 overs yielded 73 runs as South Africa finished another near 400 score. 

Like de Kock, Mahmudullah is trying his best to put his mark on the last World Cup he would ever take part in. He was excluded from the initial squad but clawed his way back for one last hurrah. He posted his third century at the World Cups with a tenacious 111. 

Mahmudullah has scored half of his country’s centuries (6) at the biggest stage, a testament to the veteran’s capability with the willow in hand. Mahmudullah has scored 814 runs at World Cups with an amazing average of 58.14. The question over Mahmudullah’s position down the order remains as he nears his retirement. 

Liton Das was the second top scorer with 22 on a dismal-looking scorecard. Shakib failed with the bat once again, and so did Shanto. Mushfiqur Rahim was not looking comfortable out in the middle, and an uppercut brought his demise for just 8 runs. Nasum Ahmed (19), Hasan Mahmud (15), and Mustafizur Rahman (11) spent some time with Mahmudullah out in the middle to take the score past 200. 

Bowling Analysis

Bangladeshi bowling has been all over the place in this World Cup. Taskin Ahmed came to this tournament with a lot of expectations on his shoulders, but his constant failure saw him axed from the team. Mustafizur Rahman is a shadow of his former sublime self as the search for form continues. Shoriful Islam is the most successful of the Bangladeshi bowlers with 6 wickets, even though he averages 47.00 with an economy rate of 6.85.

Bangladesh initially applied some pressure on the Proteas after they picked up two wickets early on. Mehidy Hasan bowled a seven-over spell, which kept this in check and caused the wicket of Rassie van der Dussen. But they gradually lost control of the proceedings with the batsmen playing risk-free shots along the ground. The 26 overs of spin yielded 160 runs for the Proteas at the cost of 2 wickets. 

The pace bowlers looked toothless and seemed to be short of ideas during the death overs. Hasan Mahmud picked up two wickets, but his length bowling was being put away easily by the South Africans. Mahmud conceded 67 from six overs, a damaging 11.16 runs per over. Musfiqur Rahman gave away 76 from his 9. The pacers were wayward with their length; too many deliveries were being pitched in the slot. Players like Miller, Klaasen, and de Kock would not let go of those easy chances for boundaries. 

Gerald Coetzee reminds me so much of Dale Steyn. The headband, hair fluttering in the air, deadly glares, and those maniac celebrations. Coetzee does not bowl as quickly as his predecessor, but the early signs are good. The 23-year-old has picked up 10 wickets at this tournament already at an average of 22.10. He would look to improve his economy, though, with 7.16 runs conceded every over. 

Lizaad Williams made his World Cup debut at the expense of injured Ngidi and made an instant impact with the ball. He picked up 2 wickets for 46 runs to disrupt the progress of the Bangladeshi innings. Marco Jansen used his height to get some bounce out of the wicket and peppered the batsmen consistently with bouncers at their bodies.

Kagiso Rabada struck fear into the hearts of the batters and prized out two scalps. But the problem for the South African bowling is their inability to remove the tail early. Bangladesh scored 200+ even though they were reeling 81/6 at one stage. 

Fielding Analysis

Young Tanzid Hasan was inexplicably put at first slip, and he made his captain rue his decision when he failed to grab Reeza Hendricks. Bangladesh was sloppy in the field, and South Africa took full advantage of that with quick singles and doubles. There were no mistakes regarding taking catches, however, with Nasum, Liton, and Mahmudullah all holding on to their catches. 

Quinton de Kock did not keep wicket after a 3-hour long inning in the grueling heat of Mumbai. Heinrich Klaasen eased into his spot and took three catches. He showed remarkable agility while catching Shakib Al Hasan out. 

Lizaad Williams could have had Mahmudullah dismissed before his ton but failed to hold on to the ball under the lights. The fielding performance was immaculate otherwise, with the fielders constantly putting pressure on the opponent batters.  

Key Performances

Quinton de Kock scored his 3rd ton in this tournament on his way to top the run scorer’s chart. Heinrich Klaasen continued his rich vein of form with another destructive innings of 90 from 49 balls. David Miller was at his supreme best during the death overs, scoring a high-quality cameo of 34 from 15 balls. Hasan Mahmud was the pick of the tormented Bangladeshi bowlers with a couple of scalps. Mehidy, Shoriful, and Shakib claimed a wicket apiece.

Mahmudullah was the only batter who held his head high with his third century at the World Cups. Liton Das was the 2nd top scorer with 22 runs on a dismal day for Bangladesh. Gerald Coetzee bowled at a quick pace and claimed three wickets. The World Cup debutant Lizaad Williams picked up two wickets, as did Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada. 

Turning Point

Bangladesh never looked comfortable during their chasing of a huge target. But Liton Das hit two boundaries of Lizaad Willams to give the Asians some momentum early on. Bangladesh were 30 for no loss after the completion of the 6th over. Marco Jansen came out to bowl his 4th over of the match. The whole complexion of the innings shifted from that point on. 

Jansen pitched one short, which was aimed at the helmet of young Tanzid Hasan. The southpaw batter tried to hook it away towards midwicket but only managed to glove it. Heinrich Klaasen gratefully accepted the offer of an easy catch. 

Najmul Hossain Shanto has come into the tournament with a lot of reputation. But the 25-year-old fell short once more with a soft dismissal. His first delivery was deviating down the leg side. Shanto tried to glance it towards the fine leg region, eventually edging it to the gloves of Heinrich Klaasen. Two wickets in consecutive deliveries made sure Bangladesh would not go far in the chase. 

Match Result

South Africa secured their fourth victory of this tournament by a huge margin of 149 runs in a one-sided affair in Wankhede. 

Player of the Match

Quinton de Kock was unanimously chosen as the best performer of the match for his third century in the opening five games. 

Brief Scorecard

Match Highlights

Match Wrap-Up

South Africa climbed to the second spot on the table after another demolition job against Bangladesh. The Proteas seemed to have left their shocking defeat against the Netherlands behind with an all-round display to brush away the timid Tigers. Bangladeshi fans would feel their dreams of a semi-final spot have shattered with their team’s clueless performance. They will have the chance to salvage some dignity against the Netherlands on Sunday. South Africa’s next assignment takes them to Chennai, where they will face a misfiring Pakistani team. 

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