After posting a record 330/6 in 50 overs, Bangladesh bowlers bowled brilliantly as they kept the Proteas to 309/8 in 50 overs. This was second successive defeat for South Africa in the ICC World Cup 2019 after losing their opening game to hosts England
London: Bangladesh stunned South Africa by 21 runs to launch their ICC World Cup 2019 campaign on a high at The Oval here on Sunday (June 2).
After posting 330/6 in 50 overs, Bangladesh bowlers bowled brilliantly as they kept the Proteas to 309/8 in 50 overs. This was second successive defeat for South Africa after losing their opening game to hosts England.
Captain Faf du Plessis top-scored with 62 but the other batsmen did not post a big score as the Proteas fell short in the run chase. Left-arm paceman Mustafizur Rahman took 3/67 while Mohammad Saifuddin had figures of 2/57.
“It will be one of our top wins, we've upset a few sides. This is my fourth World Cup, and this is the tournament where we want to prove something. The start can't get better than this,” said Shakib Al Hasan, who won the Man-of-the-match award.
“This is the start we needed, we had the belief as we came in to England. The dressing room will be happy but they know the job has just started.. Confidence is up, but have to play our best cricket against New Zealand, who always do well at ICC events," he added.
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A delighted Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza said, "We were pleased to bat first, after the toss, yes there was some doubt but we knew this was a used wicket, so batting wouldn't be a bad option. Mushfiqur always plays that kind of innings, Shakib batted so well. Soumya set the tone and we finished off with Mahmudullah and Mosaddek. We knew we had to bowl in the right areas, just keep changing our bowlers around to ensure we pick wickets. Good thing we were able to do well, the spinners set the tone."
The losing skipper du Plessis said, “Today didn't according to plan. Wasn't ideal with Lungi (Ngidi) getting injured, but 330 was above par. Not a great performance from us. Looking back, no, I wouldn't have bowled first, but the thinking was, the surface was going to have more pace and bounce. If a subcontinent side gets runs on the board, they could squeeze it later."
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Earlier, Bangladesh posted their highest ODI score as ferocious hitting from Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib took them to 330/6.
Mushfiqur made 78 from 80 balls and Shakib's 75 came from 84 balls as the pair combined in a 142-run partnership.
That was Bangladesh's highest World Cup stand and set the stage to beat their previous highest ODI total of 329/6 against Pakistan in 2015.
Du Plessis won the toss and fielded, but his decision backfired badly as Bangladesh put his lethargic bowling attack to the sword.
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Thrashed by 104 runs in their first match against England on Thursday (May 30), South Africa, deprived of key batsman Hashim Amla due to a head injury suffered in that loss, will have to score 331 to avoid a second successive defeat.
Tamim Iqbal was fit to open the batting after a wrist injury, but it was Soumya Sarkar who hit the first boundary, his flick off Lungi Ngidi bringing a huge roar from Bangladesh fans who made up the majority of the crowd at the Oval, the south London headquarters of Surrey.
Those green-shirt clad Bangladesh supporters were back on the feet as Tamim and Soumya, who hit five fours in six balls at one point, brought up their fifty partnership in just seven overs.
After conceding 27 in two overs, the barrage took its toll on Ngidi, who fielded a Tamim shot and petulantly threw at the stumps, forcing the Bangladesh opener to fend it away in self-preservation.
Moments later, Ngidi trudged from the pitch, reportedly suffering from a tight hamstring.
In his first over, South Africa's Andile Phehlukwayo broke the partnership with 60 on the board when he induced an edge from Tamim that was held by wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock.
Soumya had made a dazzling 42 in 30 balls when his aggression got the better of him with a miscued hook off Chris Morris that was well caught by the diving de Kock.
With part-time bowlers Aiden Markram and JP Duminy filling in for the absent Ngidi and Dale Steyn sidelined again by a shoulder injury, South Africa's bowling attack was hardly threatening as Shakib reached his fifty with ease.
Du Plessis was visibly frustrated, gesticulating angrily as Shakib and Mushfiqur took their partnership past a hundred runs.
Imran Tahir delivered a desperately needed breakthrough on his 100th ODI appearance, the 40-year-old spinner breaking the 142-run stand when he bowled the sweeping Shakib.
Mushfiqur perished after a risky slog off Phehlukwayo to leave Bangladesh on 250 or five in the 43rd over.
But after going six overs without a boundary, Bangladesh finished their innings with a flourish thanks to powerful stroke-play from Mahmudullah (46 not out) and Mosaddek Hossain (26).
(With inputs from PTI)
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