Bangladesh and South Africa are all set to face each other in a Group D match of the T20 World Cup 2024 on Monday, June 10. The Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York will host the contest.
South Africa, led by Aiden Markram, are sitting on top of the table with 4 points and a net run rate of +0.789. Another win will almost seal their berth in the top 2. Their pace attack, comprising Ottneil Baartman, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, has been stupendous, to say the least.
Nortje was struggling for form, but he is currently the leading wicket-taker for the Proteas with 6 scalps in the tournament. Jansen could not make a breakthrough against Sri Lanka, but he accounted for 4 wickets against the Dutch team.
South Africa, however, need to take care of their batting. Had it not been for David Miller’s unbeaten 59, they would have lost to the Netherlands in New York.
Bangladesh, on the other hand, had a close shave against Sri Lanka. Chasing a modest target of 124, the Tigers had loads of ups and downs. Towhid Hridoy took the attack to Wanindu Hasaranga, hitting the leg-spinner for 3 sixes in a row before getting out.
Mahmudullah, in the end, held his nerves to take Bangladesh past the finish line under pressure. Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain was a huge positive after he picked up 3 wickets and gave Tigers the faith that they could have a genuine leggie at the international level.
South Africa and Bangladesh have faced each other 8 times since their first meeting back in 2007. The Proteas have won every other time. In the T20 World Cups, South Africa have a 3-0 lead over the Tigers. In their previous meeting on October 27, the Proteas beat Bangladesh by 104 runs at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground.
As per reports, Soumya Sarkar might be dropped after he bagged a duck against Sri Lanka. If he doesn’t play, the Tigers have Jaker Ali Anik as a replacement. In that case, Litton Das would go back to opening the batting with Tanzid Hasan Tamim. Oman, on the other hand, can bring in fast bowler Fayyaz Butt, who has 45 T20I wickets to his name from 43 games, to strengthen their bowling attack.
The pitch in New York is expected to be bowling friendly. Batters need to grind it out to score big at the venue. Fast bowlers are expected to get a lot of assistance from the surface.
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (c), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Ottneil Baartman
Bangladesh: Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Soumya Sarkar, Litton Das (wk), Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Towhid Hridoy, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib
