Visakhapatnam
South Africa defeated Bangladesh by four runs in a thrilling encounter at the T20 World Cup 2024. South Africa, opting to bat first in their final match at Eisenhower Park in New York, initially struggled and were 23 for 4. However, a 79-run partnership between Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller helped them reach a total of 113, which they defended diligently.
Bangladesh faced a shaky start but rallied thanks to Towhid Hridoy and Mahmudullah, who put on a crucial partnership. One controversial incident involved Mahmudullah being given out incorrectly, resulting in the loss of four crucial runs. Ultimately, Bangladesh fell just short of the target, with their inability to capitalize on Keshav Maharaj’s bowling in the final over proving costly.
South Africa’s top three batsmen have underperformed in the tournament so far, with Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, and Aiden Markram struggling to make an impact. Hendricks, in particular, has struggled with technical issues and may be replaced by Ryan Rickelton in the next match.
Despite a valiant effort by Bangladesh’s bowlers in the final overs, South Africa managed to hold on for a narrow victory. Kagiso Rabada and Ottneil Baartman bowled crucial overs, while Maharaj, in his first attempt at bowling the final over in T20Is, managed to secure the win for South Africa.
On his 35th birthday, David Miller played a key role in South Africa’s victory, capitalizing on opportunities offered by the Bangladesh bowlers. Ultimately, it was a nervy finish, with Bangladesh falling short of the target by just four runs. Both teams will now head to the West Indies for their remaining matches, with South Africa leading the charge to qualify for the Super 8s.
