Proteas cruise to six wicket win over Bangladesh
Three wickets each for Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje and a
composed 31 not out from captain Temba Bavuma saw the Proteas beat Bangladesh
convincingly by six wickets at the T20 World Cup on Tuesday.
It was a good toss to win for Bavuma who put Bangladesh in to bat on a lively wicket at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi and the South African quicks made use of the friendly conditions ripping through the Bangladesh batting line-up.
At the top of the order Liton Das showed the only resistance when he made 24, however there were very few contributions until Mahedi Hasan batting at number eight made 27 off just 25 balls to get the Tigers to 85 all out.
Inside the first six overs Rabada had taken three wickets and at the end of the powerplay they were reeling at 26 for three.
It didn’t get much better for the men from Bangladesh as Nortje then got in on the act before Dwaine Pretorius and the world’s premier T20 bowler Tabraiz Shamsi also contributed wickets to the Proteas cause.
At the halfway stage of the innings they were 40 for the loss of five wickets and the Proteas continued to pick up wickets regularly with Shamsi picking up a second stick before Nortje returned to wrap up the tail along with a run out.
In reply South Africa lost Reeza Hendricks early which would have been disappointing and Quinton de Kock hit Mahedi for two boundaries and was then bowled leaving the Proteas 28 for two.
Aiden Markram was then caught in the slips for a duck before Bavuma joined Rassie van der Dussen to take the side to the brink of victory.
Trying to win the match with one final blow, Van der Dussen was well caught for 22 and Bavuma and David Miller finished off the job.
It was a composed knock from the captain who finished 31 not out off 28 balls seeing the Proteas to their third win in the group.
They face the high-flying England in their final group match which will be a must-win if they are to qualify for the semi-finals.
