Bangladesh endured a harsh reality check on Tuesday when they conceded a crushing 149-run defeat to South Africa during their fifth game of the ongoing ICC World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
In-form Quinton de Kock struck a blistering knock of 174 off 140 balls on the way to complete his third hundred in the ongoing meet while Heinrich Klaasen and stand-in skipper Aiden Markram also made 90 and 60 runs respectively as the Proteas posted a colossal total of 382-5 in 50 overs after they chose to bat first.
The total set by the Proteas was more than enough against a side, whose batters miserably failed in recent times, and yet another disastrous batting performance by the Bangladeshi batsmen saw them getting bowled out for 233 runs in 46.4 overs.
Only Mahmudullah, who scored run-a-ball 111 to complete his sixth ODI ton and fourth in the ICC tournaments, could showcase some fight in the Bangladesh innings and it saved them from conceding bigger humiliation.
The defeat also eventually ended Bangladesh’s all hopes of qualifying for the semis of the ongoing tournament as they now have lost four consecutive matches after winning the opening game against Afghanistan. Meanwhile, it was South Africa’s fourth win in five games.
Earlier, it was all about de Kock-show in the South Africa innings and apart from his record-breaking innings, he also put up two massive partnerships of 131 and 142 runs respectively with Markram and Klaasen to take their score 309-4 in 45 overs after they were reduced to 36-2 in the eighth over.
Those two wickets came within a short time when pacer Shoriful Islam bowled opener Reeza Hendricks (12) and off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz trapped Rassie van der Dussen (one) in front and it was the only period when Bangladesh looked to have some control in the contest.
But de Kock, who earlier announced that he would retire from ODIs after the ongoing World Cup, smashed 15 fours and seven sixes on his way to make the highest score by a wicketkeeper-batsman in World Cup history while the others also drove a similar steamroller on the Bangladeshi bowlers.
The Proteas scored 144 runs in the last 10 overs to post yet another gigantic score in the ongoing meet.
Meanwhile, this was also the second-highest total against Bangladesh in a World Cup game as they were just five runs short of surpassing England’s 386-6 which they scored in Cardiff in the 2019 World Cup.
Bangladesh, in reply, lost wickets at regular intervals and at one stage they were reduced to 81-6 in the 22nd over.
Tanzid Hasan Tamim was the first batsman to depart after he made 12 runs while Najmul Hossain Shanto (0) lost his wicket in the next ball bowled by the same pacer Marco Jansen.
Shakib, who returned to the Bangladesh side after missing out on the previous match against India, became Lizaad Williams’ victim in the contest while Mushfiqur Rahim (eight), Liton and Mehidy (11) all were unable to put up anything significant in their innings.
Mahmudullah showcased what the experience can do in such big games but his effort with the tail-enders only reduced the margin of the defeat.
Bangladesh will now face Netherlands in their sixth game in Kolkata on October 28.
BDST: 2306 HRS, OCT 24, 2023
MSK
