South Africa’s cricket team continued their impressive run in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2024, bowling Bangladesh out for a mere 106 runs at Pune’s MCA Stadium. However, the Proteas faced some setbacks during their reply, losing two wickets before stumps, leaving the match intriguingly poised. While South Africa’s bowling attack dominated the day, Bangladesh’s efforts with the ball in the closing stages gave them a glimmer of hope.
Bangladesh’s Batting Collapse
Bangladesh’s captain, Shakib Al Hasan, won the toss and opted to bat first on a pitch that seemed favorable for early runs. However, the decision quickly backfired as South Africa’s pacers exploited the conditions masterfully. The Bangladesh innings was derailed from the very beginning, with wickets tumbling regularly, leading to a dismal total of 106 all out in just 24.2 overs.
South African opening bowler Lungi Ngidi was the architect of Bangladesh’s early collapse. His consistent line and length troubled the Bangladesh top order, and he claimed the wickets of Tanzid Hasan and Litton Das within the first six overs. Tanzid, fresh off a promising start in the previous match, fell for 4, edging a good-length delivery to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, while Litton Das, Bangladesh’s mainstay, was bowled for just 9, beaten by Ngidi’s pace.
At 24/2, Bangladesh needed a stable partnership, but South Africa’s attack was relentless. Gerald Coetzee, brought into the attack as the first-change bowler, struck with his second ball, dismissing Mehidy Hasan Miraz for a duck. Mehidy’s tentative push saw him edge the ball to the slips, where Rassie van der Dussen made no mistake.
From that point, Bangladesh’s innings went into free fall. Ngidi returned to remove Towhid Hridoy for 3, and Coetzee, with an extra burst of pace, got the big wicket of Shakib Al Hasan for 8. The Bangladesh captain, often their savior in tricky situations, misjudged a delivery that nipped back and chopped it onto his stumps. By the time Bangladesh were 50/5, it seemed only a matter of time before the innings would collapse entirely.
Lower-order resistance came briefly from Mushfiqur Rahim, who managed 24 runs, showing some fight against South Africa’s bowling barrage. But Keshav Maharaj’s spin came into play to trap him lbw, with Bangladesh’s hopes all but extinguished. Marco Jansen, who bowled with remarkable control, cleaned up the tail, finishing with figures of 2/19.
Bangladesh’s innings ended in just over two hours, with none of their batters able to counter South Africa’s varied and disciplined attack. Lungi Ngidi was the standout performer with figures of 4/27, while Coetzee picked up 3/23 in a superb bowling display.
South Africa’s Response: Early Setbacks
Chasing a modest target of 107 should have been a straightforward task for South Africa, but Bangladesh’s bowlers struck back quickly, removing both South African openers before the close of play. The Proteas finished the day at 46/2, still needing 61 runs to secure victory.
Quinton de Kock, who had been in fine form throughout the tournament, fell early to Taskin Ahmed. De Kock, attempting to drive a full-length delivery, edged the ball straight to Najmul Hossain Shanto at slip for 14. His early departure sent a ripple of excitement through the Bangladesh team, who knew they had to be aggressive in defending such a low total.
Bangladesh’s bowlers kept things tight, and it paid off when Hasan Mahmud dismissed Reeza Hendricks for 17. Hendricks had started confidently, hitting two boundaries, but Mahmud’s nagging accuracy forced a mistake. Trying to cut a ball that wasn’t quite wide enough, Hendricks chopped it onto his stumps, leaving South Africa at 36/2.
At the other end, captain Temba Bavuma (9*) and Rassie van der Dussen (4*) played with caution, determined not to lose further wickets as Bangladesh’s bowlers started to find their rhythm. Taskin and Mahmud bowled with aggression, making the South African batsmen work hard for every run.
Though South Africa still had a comfortable target ahead, Bangladesh’s fightback suggested the match was not over yet. With a fiery bowling attack and some sharp fielding, Bangladesh ensured that South Africa could not relax going into the next day.
Key Moments
- Ngidi’s early breakthroughs: Lungi Ngidi’s early strikes were crucial in dismantling Bangladesh’s top order, setting the tone for the innings.
- Coetzee’s impact: Gerald Coetzee’s pace and aggression kept the pressure on, removing key middle-order batsmen like Shakib Al Hasan.
- South Africa’s wobbly start: Though chasing a small target, South Africa lost two wickets, giving Bangladesh a slim chance to make the match competitive.
Looking Ahead
South Africa, despite the two quick wickets, remain firm favorites to win this match. With only 61 runs needed and eight wickets in hand, they will back themselves to finish the job early on the second day. Bangladesh, on the other hand, will need a miraculous bowling performance to pull off an upset.
For South Africa, this win will further consolidate their strong position in the tournament. For Bangladesh, a loss here would all but end their semi-final hopes, given their inconsistent form throughout the World Cup. The pressure will be on Bangladesh’s bowlers to make early inroads and create a dramatic turnaround, while South Africa will focus on steady batting to secure a routine victory.