South Africa Edges Bangladesh by Four Runs in T20 World Cup Thriller
In a gripping low-scoring match at the T20 World Cup, South Africa narrowly defeated Bangladesh by four runs, a result likely to reignite debates over the pitch at New York’s Nassau County International Cricket Stadium. South Africa managed to post 113-6 in their 20 overs, with Heinrich Klaasen top-scoring with 46. Fast bowler Tanzim Hasan Sakib shone for Bangladesh, returning career-best figures of 3-18.
Chasing a modest target of 114, Bangladesh faltered against the Proteas’ pace attack, finishing at 109-7. Bangladesh’s innings began shakily, with Tanzid Hasan falling for nine to Kagiso Rabada, and Anrich Nortje removing captain Najmul Hossain Shanto (14) and Shakib Al Hasan (three). Spinner Keshav Maharaj then dismissed Liton Das for nine.
Towhid Hridoy and Mahmudullah steadied the innings with a 44-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Hridoy scored 37 off 34 balls, featuring two fours and two sixes, before being trapped lbw by Rabada. Despite needing 11 runs off the final over, bowled by Maharaj, Bangladesh fell short, losing Jaker Ali and Mahmudullah to catches attempting big hits, leaving Taskin Ahmed to scramble a single off the last ball when six were needed.
Earlier, South Africa’s batting struggled on the controversial drop-in pitch, with the team reduced to 23-4. Klaasen and David Miller, who was celebrating his 35th birthday, rescued the innings with a 79-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Klaasen’s 46 came off 44 balls, including two fours and three sixes, before he was bowled by Taskin. Miller contributed 29 from 38 deliveries before being bowled by Rishad Hossain.
South Africa had also struggled against the Netherlands on the same pitch, being 12-4 before a recovery. On Monday, Tanzim’s impressive spell included dismissing Reeza Hendricks for a duck and Quinton de Kock for 18. Taskin added to the collapse by removing Aiden Markram for four and assisting Tanzim in getting Tristan Stubbs out without scoring. Miller survived a dropped catch on 13 off Mahmudullah’s first ball, but his efforts, along with Klaasen’s, ensured South Africa had just enough runs to defend.
