ICC World Cup 2019: Match 5, South Africa vs Bangladesh – Who Said What

Before their match against South Africa at the Kennington Oval in London, not many gave Bangladesh a chance to emerge triumphantly. However, Mashrafe Mortaza’s men soared above the expectations and scripted a thunderous victory by 21 runs to announce themselves in the 2019 edition of the World Cup. In the meantime, the Proteas lost their second game in succession with their next game versus India.

Bangladesh rack up their highest ODI score

Prior to the game, the Tigers had their fair share of injury concerns, but a few of their key players, including Tamim Iqbal and Mohammad Saifuddin, got into the eleven. After losing the toss, Mashrafe Mortaza’s men racked up 330, their highest ODI score, on the board. Tamim and Soumya Sarkar made an incredible start with a stand of 60. Andile Phehlukwayo picked up Iqbal to pick up the first wicket.

Tamim looked uncomfortable and feathered one to Quinton de Kock. Soumya threated with a 30-ball 42 before becoming Chris Morris’ first victim. Thereafter, Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim cobbled together a stand of 142 runs to put the Tigers in a commanding position. Imran Tahir broke the ominous-looking stand as he got rid of Shakib, who scored 75 runs with eight boundaries and a six.

Mushfiqur made his way to 78 before getting out to Phehlukwayo. Mohammad Mithun carried on the good work with a run-a-ball 21. With the inning needing impetus, Mahmudullah and Mosaddek Hossain raced away to a stand of 66 runs off 41 balls. Mahmudullah hit three fours and also a six off Kagiso Rabada over deep mid-wicket. Mosaddek churned out a 20-ball to help Bangladesh to the record score.

The Tigers roar to glory

De Kock and Aiden Markram took South Africa off to a steady start with a stand of 49 in 9.4 overs. However, the former got out to a run-out owing to a direct-hit from Mushfiqur. Markram looked decent and scored 45 runs, but Shakib dismissed him in the 20th over. Skipper Faf du Plessis threated to take the match away, having notched 62 off 53 following which Mehidy Hasan Miraz picked him up.

David Miller and Rassie van der Dussen added 55 runs for the fifth wicket. The former was playing his first match and he churned out a 43-ball 38. Mustafizur Rahman found his leading edge and sent him packing. At the other end, Van der Dussen seemed determined, but even he couldn’t carry on. Saifuddin disturbed his timber. As many as 103 runs were needed for the Proteas in the last 10 overs of the game.

JP Duminy tried hard with a knock of 45 runs off 37 deliveries with four boundaries. After Mustafizur Rahman disturbed his timber, the fate of the encounter was pretty much decided. Morris, Rabada and Tahir contributed with 10, 13 and 10 respectively, but the efforts weren’t enough to take South Africa over the finishing line. This was Bangladesh’s second victory versus the Proteas in the World Cup after 2007.

Shakib Al Hasan, the Player of the Match, said

I think this is one of our top wins. We have had a few upsets before in World Cup, but this time we want to prove and the start can’t get any better. Before arriving here, we had the belief, we needed this start and we need to build on the momentum. I played two years for Worcestershire and I know the conditions here. We played the 2017 Champions trophy and we had a fair idea about how the wickets behave, knew it was good for batting.

Didn’t know about the record (record partnership for the third wicket), we had a good start and we both (himself and Rahim) knew that we needed to build on that opening. Our confidence is really good at the moment, the next game here against New Zealand is a big game, they are a strong team and will come hard at us. Looking forward to that match.

Mashrafe Mortaza, the Bangladesh captain, said

The first match always sets the tone. We won in Ireland and that helped us set the tone here. After the toss, I had a doubt whether to bat or to bowl first. But it was a used wicket and the batsmen batted really well, especially Soumya at the start. Mushy batted really well, so did Shakib and then Mahmudullah finished it really well.

I knew it was a good wicket to bat on and we knew that to bowl in the right areas to get wickets. The spinners bowled really well and then set it up for Fizz and Saifuddin. A big crowd, and hopefully we are expecting them to come back in our next match.

Faf du Plessis, the South Africa captain, said

Obviously today didn’t go according to plan. Lungi getting injured at the start wasn’t ideal at the start of the campaign. 330 was over par, and every one chipped in with the bat, but all in all it wasn’t ideal from us. The thinking at the toss was after speaking to the groundsman, that there would be a lot of pace and bounce against a sub-continental side. If they do get runs on the board, they can squeeze you. But in hindsight, we would have changed that.

To go for that many runs, even without Lungi, wasn’t ideal. We have to take that on the chin. At the 45-over mark, I looked up at the screen and we were at the same stage, and it shows that we were really bad in the last five overs. We came here with the fast bowling attack that we wanted to have. Lungi has a hamstring injury, so I’m not sure how serious it is because usually hammies are a few days or a week off.

Dale is bowling in the middle now, so hopefully that’s some good progress. It is definitely not getting easier for us. South Africa is a very proud sporting nation. The skills weren’t there today but I promise there will be a lot of fight. We are firing at about 50-60 percent today and it shows that even Bangladesh can beat that on any day.