South Africa defeated Bangladesh by four runs in another low-scoring thriller at the T20 World Cup on Monday. This result may lead to more discussions about the suitability of the pitch used in New York.
South Africa scored 113-6 in their 20 overs, with Heinrich Klaasen top-scoring with 46. Fast bowler Tanzim Hasan Sakib took a career-best 3-18.
Bangladesh managed 109-7 in reply, giving South Africa their third win in three Group D games.
"It was not a nice one to watch, it was good that the boys got it over the line," said Klaasen. "The wicket is not too great for strokeplay."
Chasing 114 to win on the drop-in strip at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, Bangladesh struggled against South Africa's pace attack.
They were 50-4 at the 10-over mark. Tanzid Hasan (nine) was dismissed by Kagiso Rabada, while Anrich Nortje took the wickets of skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (14) and Shakib Al Hasan (three). Spinner Keshav Maharaj dismissed Liton Das for nine.
Towhid Hridoy and Mahmudullah steadied Bangladesh with a 44-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Hridoy was lbw to Rabada for 37 from 34 balls, featuring two fours and two sixes.
Bangladesh needed 11 runs off the last over bowled by Maharaj. With seven required from four balls, both Jaker Ali and Mahmudullah were caught by Aiden Markram attempting big shots. Taskin Ahmed managed only a single off the final ball.
"I think this is a match we should have won. In the last couple of overs, they bowled well, but this can happen in cricket," said Shanto.
Earlier, South Africa were restricted to 113-6, with Tanzim supported by Taskin's 2-19. Proteas captain Markram chose to bat first after winning the toss.
South Africa were at 23-4 before Klaasen and David Miller added 79 for the fifth wicket. Klaasen's 46 came from 44 balls with two fours and three sixes before Taskin bowled him in the 18th over. Miller was dismissed four runs later by Rishad Hossain, having scored 29 from 38 balls with a boundary and a six.
On Saturday, South Africa had been 12-4 against the Netherlands on the same pitch.
Tanzim, playing his eighth T20 international, began the collapse by dismissing Reeza Hendricks lbw for a duck. Quinton de Kock was bowled by Tanzim for 18. Taskin dismissed Markram (four), and Tanzim took his third wicket by having Tristan Stubbs caught by Shakib Al Hasan for a duck.
Miller survived a dropped catch by Liton Das on 13 off Mahmudullah's first ball.
With three wins, South Africa are likely to advance to the Super Eight phase. Bangladesh, with two points, are still in contention to join them.
(AFP)
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