Pressure, lack of match awareness and potent spin bowling from Bangladesh were the main reasons for South Africa’s 104 run defeat to Bangladesh in the 2020 u.19 Cricket World Cup in Potch today.
Left-arm spinner, Rakibul Hasan, was the linchpin in Bangladesh’s spin department taking a miserly 5/19 in his 9.3 overs.
SA could only manage 157 all out in pursuit of Bangladesh’s 261/5. Luke Beaufort with 60 off 90 balls toiled but losing Parsons and Bird early put a nail in SA’s coffin. The question must be asked why SA decided to bowl first in a crunch match, knowing that runs on the board is normally the best way to go.
Earlier, on a scorching hot day at the JB Marks Oval, the SA bowlers toiled for their wickets, whilst still keeping wraps on the Bangladeshi batsmen.
At the half way stage, Bangladesh found themselves at 118/2 after 25 overs with Tanzid Tamim looking solid on 72.
South Africa’s off spinner, Pheko Moletsane, got the first breakthrough getting Emon trapped LBW for 17. Mondli Khumalo’s sharp fielding off his own bowling also accounted for the wicket of Mahmadul Joy, with a quick run-out.
Bangladesh had a lucky escape with the score on 174/3 when Towhid Hridoy was dropped by Jonathan Bird.
This proved costly for SA as the Bangladeshis capitalised with Shahadat Hossain and Hridoy racking up the runs with both reaching solid half-centuries.
Hossain was pulling out all the shots at the end of the innings with deft flicks over the keeping and thunderous shots over long on.
His partner, Hridoy for 51 (73), was dismissed with the score on 232, as Moletsane got his second scalp of the innings. This ended the 102-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Hossain and Hridoy.
Hossain though carried on to stay undefeated at the end of the innings as Bangladesh reached 261/5 in their 50 overs.
South Africa’s reply started cautiously with Khanya Cotani and Jonathan Bird putting on a …run partnership for the first wicket.
A big moment occurred in the 5th over when Bangladesh captain, Akbar Ali, dropped a sitter of a catch from the bat of Bird.
Bangladesh though got their first wicket as Cotani skied a Tanzim Sakib delivery to mid-wicket to leave SA on 34/1 after 9 overs.
Bangladesh then got two massive breakthroughs as Bryce Parsons (7) and Bird (35) were dismissed in the space of two overs – both to the spin of Rakibul Hasan. This left SA on 59/3 still needing 202 runs for victory.
South Africa’s main struggles were against the spinners as Bangladesh tightened their grip on the match. The batsmen could not rotate the strike which increased the pressure as each over passed.
At the half way mark SA were 86/4 and needed to up the pace to salvage their World Cup campaign.
Jack Lees tried to do just that but was caught at fine leg with Tanzim Hasan Sakib taking an outstanding diving catch. This left SA 5 wickets down and in dire straits.
Beaufort tried his best but ultimately Bangladesh were too smart and booked their place in the u.19 Cricket World Cup semi-finals.
Photos: Wouter Pienaar
