Match Preview – Bangladesh vs South Africa, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023/24, 23rd Match

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Big picture: Important game for Bangladesh

Who wants to face a team that scored 399 runs in their last game? And he did so at the venue. Bangladesh have that privilege as they take on the South African unit fresh – or are they given the scorching heat of Mumbai? – from their demolished Defending champion England on Saturday.

South Africa is with three wins in four matches comfortably placed at number 3 In the marks table. And their tremendous margins of victory – 102 runs against Sri Lanka, 134 runs against Australia and 229 runs against England – have earned them the best net run rate in the tournament.

South Africa have scored over 300 every time they have batted first in this World Cup – their top order has set a strong platform for a powerful finish, of which Heinrich Klaasen and Marco Jansen provided a devastating example at the Wankhede. Did.

Their fast-paced bowling attack – comprising Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jensen, Gerald Coetzee, along with the left-arm spin of Keshav Maharaj bowled out the line-ups of Sri Lanka, Australia and England. the only time they fell short in both subjects When he bowled first against Netherlands.

While South Africa are in a good position to make the semi-finals, Bangladesh is struggling to be a serious contender, having lost three games to England, New Zealand and India after an opening win against Afghanistan. They are one of five teams stuck on a win after four matches, and another defeat will certainly end their flickering chances of qualification.

Mushfiqur Rahim has been their best batsman, while players like Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Tauheed Hridoy and Mehdi Hasan Miraz have been unable to make significant contributions in the middle order. Tanjid Hasan scored a half-century against India after a difficult start to his international career, while Liton Das has been hot and cold at the top of the order. Whether Shakib Al Hasan, who missed their previous match against India due to injury, is fit to play is important, as Bangladesh will once again be without the injured Taskin Ahmed.

form guide

South Africa WLWWW (last five ODIs, most recent first)

bangladesh LLLWL

In the spotlight: Klaasen and Mushfiqur

heinrich classen This will undoubtedly be a hot topic at the Bangladesh team meeting after his innings of 109 off 67 balls against England at the Wankhede, an innings which was played in the heat and humidity of a scorching Mumbai afternoon. A late addition to the South African team, Klaasen is having his best year in ODIs, scoring 725 runs at an average of 55.76 in 2023. His strike rate of 139.43 makes him one of the most destructive batsmen in the World Cup. After not fielding during England’s chase, would Klaasen have recovered to have enough gas in the tank against Bangladesh?

Amidst the disappointing batting of Bangladesh, mushfiqur rahim Has emerged as their top scorer and most reliable batsman. He is batting at No. 6 this year, which seems very low for an in-form batsman in a middle-order that is in poor form. Especially in the absence of Shakib, Mushfiqur can be placed at number four in the batting order, but he is not likely to move up in the order.

Team News: Will Bavuma and Shakib play?

Aiden Markram led South Africa against England because Temba Bavuma did not fit. If he recovers by Tuesday he will be back for his replacement reeza hendricksWho scored 85 runs on 75 balls against England. The decision will be made on the morning of the game.

South Africa (possible): 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Temba Bavuma (c)/Reeza Hendricks, 3 Rassie van der Dussen, 4 Aiden Markram, 5 Heinrich Klaasen, 6 David Miller, 7 Marco Johnson, 8 Gerald Coetzee, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Lungi Ngidi

Shakib missed the match against India due to a left quadriceps injury, but said he trained without any problem on Sunday and is likely to be fit for the match. Taskin is unavailable due to a shoulder injury.

bangladesh (Probable): 1 Tanjeed Hasan, 2 Liton Das, 3 Nazmul Hussain Shanto, 4 Shakib Al Hasan (captain), 5 Tauheed Hridoy, 6 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 7 Mehdi Hasan Miraj, 8 Mahmudullah, 9 Hasan Mahmood, 10 Shoriful Islam, 11 Mustafizur Rahman

Pitch and conditions: Another hot day

Expect another hot afternoon with temperatures in the mid 30s Celsius with high humidity. Jos Buttler admitted that he might have made a mistake by fielding first in such conditions on Saturday, so the team winning the toss is expected to bat first on the flat track at Wankhede and tire the opposition before the chase begins.

Statistics and General Knowledge

  • Bangladesh have won their last two World Cup matches against South Africa at Providence (2007) and The Oval (2019).
  • Klaasen’s strike-rate of 147.95 this year is the second highest among batsmen who have scored more than 700 runs in ODIs.
  • In 2022, Bangladesh won the ODI series against South Africa for the first time

Citation

“We haven’t performed particularly well against them in the past, so it’s extra motivation for us to come out and repeat the good performance against England.”
aiden markram South Africa have lost three of their last four ODIs to Bangladesh, leaving their World Cup record at 2-2.

“I don’t think there is any need to motivate the players in the World Cup. Everyone is well motivated and working hard. We have had some individual performances, so if we can string it together, we can Can get a good result.”
captain of bangladesh shakib al hassan On the morale of the team before the match against South Africa

Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84

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