Quinton de Kock, Heinrich Klaasen lead South Africa’s demolition of Bangladesh

Oct 24, 2023 at 7:10 PM
Quinton de Kock, Heinrich Klaasen lead South Africa’s demolition of Bangladesh

South Africa 382 for five (De Kock 174, Klaasen 90, Markram 60) beat Bangladesh 233 (Mahmudullah 111, Jansen 2-39, Rabada 2-42) by 149 runs

South Africa proceed to bludgeon all earlier than their path once they bat first, and it would not appear to matter who’s in the way in which. This time, it was Bangladesh who had been the unlucky victims, with South Africa placing them to the sword in a 149-run demolition. It was led by an unlimited contribution from Quinton de Kock, whose 140-ball 174 powered South Africa to 382. At the loss of life, to assist him alongside, he had Heinrich Klaasen, who smashed 90 off 49 balls as South Africa racked up 144 within the ultimate 10 overs. Bangladesh had been by no means within the chase in response and, as with each different sport of South Africa’s on this event, all 5 bowlers chipped in with wickets.

South Africa opted to bat first and to start issues weren’t as easy as the ultimate scorecard may recommend. Bangladesh stored a lid on de Kock and Reeza Hendricks initially, and drew early blood when Shoriful Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz removed Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen cheaply. By the tip of the eighth over, South Africa had been wobbling mildly at 36 for two, and there was little signal this pitch could be conducive to the runfest that adopted.

But Aiden Markram and de Kock are arguably the 2 most in-form batters this event and, collectively, they started to step by step shut Bangladesh out of the competition. The spinners had been milked down the bottom as Bangladesh’s means – and urge for food – for wicket-taking receded. The holding sample benefitted South Africa, given their energy decrease down the order, and shortly sufficient, the boundaries started to stream. The hundred got here up within the 21th over, the 100-partnership within the twenty sixth. By now de Kock was closing in on his personal hundred, whereas Markram had introduced up a half-century.

Even the wicket of Markram – he ultimately fell when he mistimed an inside-out aerial drive off Shakib – appeared to learn South Africa. Klaasen got here on on the excellent time – with 20 overs to go, he sufficient time to mattress in earlier than the deliberate carnage on the loss of life – and a ok platform in place. A pulled six off Shakib off his fourth ball made his intentions plain, earlier than de Kock introduced up his third hundred this World Cup.

South Africa had been getting as many runs as they wished by this stage, with the sport performed solely on their phrases. But the trademark brutality they demonstrated against England wasn’t but in proof; and by the tip of the 37st over, they’d solely simply introduced up the 200. What adopted after that, although, was a repeat dose of what England had suffered at this venue three days earlier.

A powered six and a 4 from Klaasen off Hasan Mahmud signalled South Africa’s gear shift into sport mode, earlier than de Kock cranked it as much as 11 in an onslaught towards the Bangladesh captain. Smashing two fours and two sixes in that Shakib over that went for 22, de Kock introduced up his 150, and an additional 17 from the next noticed South Africa pace to 300. De Kock could be denied his personal double-hundred although, holing out for 174 to deep backward level, however in Miller, they’d the right man coming in but once more.

As Bangladesh had been blown away by the flurry of fours and sixes they discovered themselves being peppered for, they swiftly ran out of concepts, seemingly going by way of the motions and seeking to carry the innings to an finish. The final 5 overs had 73 runs scored, and although Klaasen was denied one other sensible hundred, he had ensured the goal was nicely past Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s chase by no means actually obtained going. The intent up prime wasn’t evocative of a facet that wanted to seek out such an enormous whole, and the standard of South Africa’s quick bowling straitjacketed them anyway. A few boundaries off Lizaad Williams within the sixth over was the primary signal of acceleration, but it surely was put down swiftly by back-to-back wickets for Marco Jansen within the subsequent, with Tanzid Hassan and Najmal Shanto each squeezed down leg to the wicketkeeper.

Shakib has been wanting runs this event, and it was a development that continued. He poked at one from Williams that Klaasen, conserving instead of a cramped-up de Kock, grabbed onto with aplomb to depart Bangladesh reeling at 31 for 3.

South Africa have shared the wickets amongst their bowlers all event, and now it was Gerald Coetzee’s flip as Mushfiqur Rahim carved one straight down deep third’s throat. Rabada would then get into the act as he trapped Litton Das in entrance, and Keshav Maharaj eliminated Mehidy as Bangladesh stumbled to 81 for six.

The sport may need ended with a report defeat however for a stirring effort from Mahmudullah. Initially not even picked in Bangladesh’s World Cup squad, he was the one batter who confirmed any diploma of consolation towards this South Africa assault. He had the boldness to tackle Jansen, each with the bat and his perspective, giving pretty much as good as he obtained when the person a foot taller than him provided him a verbal spray.

South Africa have had some hassle disposing off the tail this event, and it is one of many few issues they could mirror upon once more. As with England and Netherlands, the Bangladesh decrease order stored chipping away, with Mahmudullah closing in on his hundred as sloppiness seeped into the bowling and fielding. Mahmudullah farmed the strike expertly, and would get to his third World Cup hundred with a nudge into the onside.

But that fightback was merely a distraction from a sport that South Africa had completely, fully, dominated. Coetzee ultimately obtained Mahmdullah with a full, large ball, and shortly after Williams would ship the ending blow as Bangladesh finally fell for 233, propelling South Africa to second place on the points table, and sinking Bangladesh to the underside.

Danyal Rasool is ESPNcricinfo’s Pakistan correspondent. @Danny61000