Heartbreak for Bangladesh again as they lose against South Africa

Heartbreak for Bangladesh yet again as they lost their second group stage match by 4 runs against South Africa in the T20 World Cup match at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Monday.

Mahmudullah and Towhid Hridoy showed big heart but that wasn’t enough for Bangladesh to chase down 114 runs set by the Proteas. They managed to score 109/7 eventually falling four runs short.

The match went into the last over with Bangladesh needing 11 runs having Mahmudullah and Jaker Ali at the crease. Mahmudullah survived a run-out scare but fell short trying to hit a maximum in the fifth delivery. Mahmudullah was faced with yet another test but this time he was caught at long-on scoring 20 off 27 balls. 

Chasing 1144 runs, Bangladesh lost Tanzid Hasan Tamim early. Kagiso Rabada bagged the wicket of Tanzid ( 9 off 9 balls). Najmul Hossain Shanto and Litton Das steadied the ship for a while but they both departed soon after the powerplay ended. Litton fell prey to Keshav Maharaj in the seventh over and Shakib was caught at mid-wicket failing to deal with a bouncer from Anrich Nortje in the very next over.

Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto played a sluggish innings bagging 14 runs of 23 balls. Bangladesh were reduced to 50/4 in the 10th over. 114 seemed like a long way to go from there.

But Mahmudullah and Hridoy kept their calm. They slowly but steadily kept the scoreboard ticking. The duo added 44 runs for the fifth wicket. 

Mahmudullah could have been dismissed by Anrich Nortje in the 12th over when Marco Jansen dropped a tough chance at first slip when the right-handed batter was on 6. 

For South Africa, Maharaj picked up three wickets while Nortje and Rabada bagged a brace each.

Hridoy showed big heart hitting a few sixes against Maharaj before departing which had made life easier for the Tigers. The batter scored 37 from 34 runs hitting two fours and two maximums. 

Earlier, a disciplined bowling performance helped the Tigers restrict South Africa to 113 for 6 after 20 overs.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Taskin Ahmed gave the Tigers a flying start picking up four wickets inside the first five overs.

Sakib who conceded 11 runs in his first five deliveries of the innings, ended up with a figure of 3-0-13-3 after his first spell. He was well-accompanied by Taskin who also picked up a wicket in his first spell reducing South Africa to four down insi de the powerplay.