Quinton de Kock’s sensation 174 and Heinrich Klaasen’s brutal hitting at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai helped South Africa register a win by 149 runs over Bangladesh to occupy the second spot on the World Cup 2023 points table. Mahmudullah fought the lost battle against the Proteas but his century could only help Bangladesh lower the margin of defeat.
Earlier, Aiden Markram won the toss and opted to bat first. In the second over, Reeza Hendricks got a second chance as Tanzid Hasan dropped his catch at slip position. In the seventh over, Shorifuul Islam knocked Hendricks over. He scored 12 runs from 19 balls. In the next over, Mehidy Hasan Miraz trapped Rassie van der Dussen in front of the stumps for a single-digit score. Meanwhile, De Kock fired from the other end. He reached his half-century in the 18th over from 47 balls. Markram accelerated and reached his half-century from 57 balls. The third wicket partnership was broken in the 31st over by Shakib. He scored 60 runs from 69 balls including seven fours.
De Kock reached his third century of the tournament from 101 balls. Heinrich Klaasen took the attacking route right from the start clearing the boundary with ease. De Kock accelerated after reaching three figures as well. He hit Shakib for a couple of fours and sixes in the 43rd over. He reached his 150 from 129 balls. The onslaught continued and Klaasen completed his half-century from just 34 balls. Hasan Mahmud ended De Kock's stay at the crease in the 46th over. He scored 174 runs from 140 balls featuring 15 fours and seven sixes. It is the second-highest score by a South African batter in World Cups.
Klaasen looked unaffected by De Kock's wicket. He smashed Mustafizur Rahman for a couple of sixes and a four in the next over. David Miller joined in with a six in the 48th over. The penultimate over was expensive too as Miller hit Islam for two sixes and a four. In the final over, Klaasen hit a six and then got out. He missed a chance to score a century. He scored 90 runs from just 49 balls including a couple of fours and eight sixes. Miller hit another six in the last over to take South Africa's score to 382/5. Miller remained unbeaten for a 15-ball 34.
In the run chase, Bangladesh openers were cautious but managed to score 30 runs in the first five overs. In the seventh over, Jansen struck twice to send Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto packing. In the next over, Lizaad Williams got the wicket of Shakib. Gerald Coetzee got rid of Mushfiqur Rahim to push Bangladesh entirely on the back foot. Kagiso Rabada joined the party as well to get the wicket of Litton Das who scored 22 runs from 34 balls. Bangladesh lost half their side for 58 runs in 15 overs.
Mahmudullah and Mehidy Hasan Miraz tried to string together a partnership. Miraz decided to take on Keshav Maharaj and paid the price for it. The mistimed slog sweep ended in substitute fielder Andile Phehlukwayo's hands. Mahmudullah held on to one end. On the other end, Mahmudullah batted patiently. In the 29th over, Nasum took on Coetzee and hit him for consecutive boundaries. He departed for a run-a-ball 19. Mahmudullah reached his half-century from 67 balls in the 35th over. In the next over, he had a heated exchange with Jansen after hitting a boundary. Rabada got Mahmud's wicket in the next over with a short ball.
After the eighth wicket, Mahmudullah decided to deal mostly in boundaries. He got aid from South African fielders as well. Williams dropped his catch. Mustafizur Rahman was the perfect partner on the other end. Mahmudullah kept on firing and reached his century from 104 balls in the 45th over. His fightback came to an end in the 46th over of the innings. Coetzee got his wicket with a slower one. Mahmudullah scored a run-a-ball 111 laced with 11 fours and four sixes. Williams wrapped up the proceedings with Mustafizur's wicket. Bangladesh were bowled out for 233 with 20 balls left in the innings. South Africa won the match by a comfortable margin of 149 runs.
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