Toothless Tigers thumped by Proteas

A hapless Bangladesh side were thrashed by South Africa as the Proteas beat the Tigers by six wickets in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday to keep them in contention for the semi-finals.

Bangladesh, on the other hand, are now in danger to end their World Cup campaign without a win in the Super 12 stage.

Batting first, Bangladesh could only manage 84, courtesy of a horrific batting display. Three Bangladesh batsmen- Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim and Afif Hossain, went for ducks, and only three- Liton Das (24), Shamim Hossain (11) and Shak Mahedi Hasan (27), managed to reach double figures.

Kagiso Rabada was the destroyer-in-chief as he nipped the Bangladesh top-order with three wickets, whereas Anrich Nortje also picked up three.

In reply, Taskin Ahmed bowled a fiery opening spell which handed him a couple of wickets. But other than that, there was hardly anything positive for the Tigers as South Africa skipper Bavuma led his side to the win with an unbeaten knock of 31.

Bangladesh had a steady start as Mohammad Naim (9) and Liton put together 22 off 22 deliveries. But once Rabada got rid of Naim, the floodgates were open.

Soumya returned the next ball and Mushfiq in the next over, whereas skipper Mahmudullah Riyad (3) became Nortje’s first scalp. The Bangladesh skipper also wasted a review questionably as the ball clearly struck his glove on the way before looping up off his shoulder.

Liton, who had been the mainstay of Bangladesh’s innings, was next to go when the world’s no. 1 T20I bowler Tabraiz Shamsi trapped him LBW.

The only noticeable intent in the Bangladesh innings came from Mahedi, who scored the team’s highest score of 27 before Bangladesh were bowled out for 84.

In reply, Taskin Ahmed brought Bangladesh a wicket in his first over when he dismissed Reeza Hendricks. Mahedi continued on his good match when he got rid of Quinton de Kock before Taskin picked up his second by sending back Aiden Markram in the final over of the powerplay.

A 47-run stand between South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen took the Proteas only five runs away from victory before a brilliant catch from Shoriful Islam sent van der Dussen back.

And David Miller then took only three deliveries to take the Proteas home with six wickets and 39 balls in hand.