CWC 2023 Match 23, South Africa VS Bangladesh Played at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, India on 24 October 2023

South Africa 382/5 (Quinton de Kock 174, Henrich Klassen 90, Aiden Markram 60, David Miller 34, Hasan Mahmood 2/67, Mehedy Hasan Miraj 1/44, Shakib Al Hasan 1/69, Shoriful Islam 1/76,)

Bangladesh 233 All Out in 46.4 Overs (Mahmudullah Riad 111, Litton Kumar Das 22, Gerald Coetzee 3/62, Marco Jansen 2/39, Kagiso Rabada 2/56, Lizzad Williams 2/56)

South Africa won by 149 Runs.

Player Of the Match: Quinton de Kock (174 Runs)

South Africa continuing with its top of the shop brilliant all round cricket earned yet another massive winning crashing Bangladesh by 149 runs. Winning four of their five matches Protean almost assured its berth among the top four.

Bating first Protean batsmen ruthlessly bashed Bangladesh boring scoring 382/5 in allotted overs. South Africa now owns three top scores (428/5, 399/7 and 382/5) top scores of CWC 2023). The target was way beyond the reach of team tigers. They were reduced to 7/122 at one stage. Brilliant late middle order knock of veteran Mahmudullah Riad scoring run a ball 111 could salvage some pride. Bangladesh could score 233 all out in 46.4 overs. Losing 4 matches in 5 Bangladesh mission in CWC 2023 is all but over. Flamboyant Proten Opener Quinton de Kock scoring his third century in this world cup 174 in 140 balls now is the highest run (407) getter. Dussen a bit early within 36 runs. Bangladesh bowled tight and fielding kept protean within control for a while. But once Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram settled, they started bashing Bangladesh bowling 131 runs was added in the third wicket. At the fall of Markram blaster Klassen joined well set de Kock. Ball started floating all over the park. The pair savaged Bangladesh bowling to total submission. Six and fours were flowing like fountains. It was exhibition of top-quality aggressive batting. Quinton de Kock in his punishing innings of 174 scored in 140 balls blasted 15 fours and 7 sixes. Klassen was even more ruthless. His 49 balls 90 included 2 fours and 8 towering sixes. David Miller produced a cameo adding 34 in 15 deliveries. South African innings stopped at 382/5 in allotted 50 overs. Another sky scrapper of runs was produced was produced by Protean batting Bangladesh out of the match. Shakib and his clueless bowlers had nothing doing except watching and wondering.

Bangladesh in the chase once again batted poorly showing no character at all. Wickets kept tumbling after poor start. At 7/112 it appeared that that the innings would be wrapped up below 200. But majestic Mahmudullah Riad coming to bat number 6 salvaged some pride producing run a ball 111. He struck 11 fours and 4 sixes in his innings. Can you imagine this great servant of Bangladesh was included in the team at the very last minute. It was only him who talked the walk as only Litton K Das (22) and Nasum Ahmed (19) looked like giving some resistance. Protean bowlers Gerald Coetzee (3/62), Marco Jansen (2/39), Kagiso Rabada (2/42) and Lizzad Williams (2/56) hunted the team tigers on the flat Mumbai wicket.

South Africa consolidated the position among the top four almost assuring a berth for the semifinal. Bangladesh mission 2023 World Cup is all but over. All questions will be answered by Captain Shakib after the end of Bangladesh mission he informed before Bangladesh returns empty handed. Any team may win or lose in any match. But Bangladesh losing four matches on a trot and that too by huge margins questions its credibility. Teams like Afghanistan, Netherland even played better cricket. Let us hope that Bangladesh salvages some pride in the remaining matches.

One must admire the way South Africa is playing. Apart from Choking against Netherlands Protean looked way above the rest. They have well-equipped all-round resources brilliant aggressive batsmen all the way, great penetrative bowling attack and excellent fielders. It is to e seen whether they can maintain their momentum. Bangladesh on the other hand looks down the barrel.

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BDST: 0837 HRS, OCT 25, 2023

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