Sun 02 June 2019:
History was made as South Africa did nothing to change its reputation as a World Cup choker in a crushing loss to Bangladesh.
South Africa’s World Cup campaign is in tatters after losing its second straight match, this time to Bangladesh. The Proteas didn’t do anything to improve their reputation as World Cup chokers, following up a comprehensive defeat to England in the tournament opener by stuttering to a 21-run loss to the Tigers — marking the first time they’ve lost their first two games at a World Cup. Bangladesh’s victory was made even sweeter by creating a special piece of history. Its 6/330 after 50 overs was its highest ever total in one-day internationals, beating the 329 it racked up in 2015.
The batsmen showed no fear against a South African attack already missing an injured spearhead Dale Steyn, that was weakened further by a hamstring issue limiting Lungi Ngidi to just four overs. “We’ve done quite a few upsets … but this is the World Cup we want to prove something and this is the way we want to start,” man of the match Shakib Al Hasan said. “You can’t do better than that.” South Africa was tasked with pulling off the highest ever successful run chase in World Cup history and while it started promisingly, scoring freely against the new ball, keeping up the steam required to chase the intimidating target proved too much to ask.
South Africa’s most dynamic batsman Quinton de Kock was run out for 23 after a mix-up when he was dropped by wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim but Aiden Markram and captain Faf du Plessis took control as the Bangladesh bowlers and fielders looked to be going through the motions. They took the score past 100 inside 20 overs before Markram was bowled for 45. Du Plessis was motoring but got out at the wrong time for 62 off 53 balls, leaving the Proteas on edge at 3/147 in the 27th over. They weren’t letting the required run rate get out of hand but they kept losing wickets at the worst possible times. A 55-run fourth-wicket stand was broken when David Miller — brilliant at clearing the rope at the end of an innings — fell for 38 and 26 runs later Rassie van der Dussen had his stumps rearranged on 41.
Too many South Africans were failing to convert starts and with just over 10 overs remaining, they needed 100 to win with five wickets in hand. The pressure kept building and it squeezed the life out of the Proteas, who swung lustily but it was too little, too late. JP Duminy tried to keep his foot on the gas but he was running out of partners and Chris Morris smashed his pad with his bat in frustration when he hit a full toss straight down deep mid-wicket’s throat for 10. Mustafizur Rahman then had Duminy chopping on for 45, becoming the eighth South African wicket to tumble and the men in gold needed 40 to win from two overs. They could only make it to 309, sparking huge cheers around the ground. “You can almost feel South Africa’s tension coming through in the way it batted,” former Proteas captain Graeme Smith said in commentary.
“When you’re chasing 330 you need someone to get 100. A lot of guys got starts and got out.” Du Plessis won the toss and fielded but admitted afterwards if given his time again, he would make a different call. “Looking back, I’d probably change that,” he said. “In hindsight I’d probably change the decision.” Former England fast bowler Derek Pringle was scathing of the decision to bowl first, tweeting those responsible should “hang their heads in shame”.
South Africa may yet win this match but if they don’t they will surely rue their decision to bowl first on a pitch offering grip for Bangla’s spinners especially after their preview of Oval pitches in previous game
— Derek Pringle (@derekpringle) June 2, 2019
Bangladesh’s history-making effort was led by a crucial 142-run partnership between Al Hasan and Rahim — the country’s best World Cup partnership — after opener Soumya Sarka got his team off to a flyer with a quickfire 42 off 30 balls. Al Hasan (75 off 84) and Rahim (78 off 80) made sure the whirlwind start didn’t go to waste, though both fell short of triple figures, missing out on a golden opportunity to score the first ton of the World Cup. Al Hasan added a personal milestone to his team’s record-breaking feat, passing the 5000-run mark in ODIs and in the process, becoming the fastest cricketer to score 5000 runs and take 250 wickets in one-day cricket, doing so in his 199th match. When he and Rahim departed within five overs of each other, Bangladesh was 5/250 in the 40th over and the innings could have taken a very different turn than what it did. Good death bowling from South Africa could have limited Bangladesh to 300-315 but instead the Tigers’ lower order came to the party. Mohammad Mahmudullah opened his shoulders, spanking an unbeaten 46 from 33 balls and Mosaddek Hossain chimed in with a handy cameo of 26 from 20 deliveries as the Asian side belted 54 off the final four overs to steal the momentum heading into its bowling innings.
Like this story? Share it with a friend!
