Bangladesh below stress as South Africa goal for the No. 2 spot

Big image: Crucial sport for Bangladesh

Who desires to face the workforce that smashed 399 of their earlier sport? And on the venue they did it too. Bangladesh have that privilege, as they tackle a South African unit contemporary – or are they, given the searing Mumbai warmth? – from their dismantling of defending champions England on Saturday.

With three wins in 4 video games, South Africa are comfortably positioned at No. 3 within the factors desk. And their thumping margins of victories – 102 runs in opposition to Sri Lanka, 134 in opposition to Australia, and 229 in opposition to England – have earned them the most effective web run price within the event.

South Africa have scored 300-plus each time they’ve batted first on this World Cup – with their prime order laying a powerful platform for a strong end, of which Heinrich Klaasen and Marco Jansen supplied a devastating instance on the Wankhede.

Their pace-heavy bowling assault – comprising Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, together with the left-arm spin of Keshav Maharaj – dismissed the line-ups of Sri Lanka, Australia and England. The solely time they fell brief in each disciplines was once they bowled first in opposition to Netherlands.

While South Africa are properly positioned to push for a semi-final spot, Bangladesh are struggling to be a severe contender, having misplaced three video games – to England, New Zealand and India – after a gap victory in opposition to Afghanistan. They are one among 5 groups caught on one win after 4 matches, and one other defeat will nearly definitely extinguish their flickering probabilities of qualification.

Mushfiqur Rahim has been their greatest batter, with the likes of Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy and Mehidy Hasan Miraz unable to make vital contributions within the center order. Tanzid Hasan scored a fifty in opposition to India after a troublesome begin to his worldwide profession, whereas Litton Das has been cold and warm on the prime of the order. Whether Shakib Al Hasan, who missed their earlier sport in opposition to India with a niggle, is handed match to play is vital, as Bangladesh will probably be with out the injured Taskin Ahmed as soon as once more.

Form information

South Africa WLWWW (final 5 ODIs, most up-to-date first)

Bangladesh LLLWL

In the highlight: Klaasen and Mushfiqur

Heinrich Klaasen will undoubtedly be a scorching matter on the Bangladesh workforce assembly after his 109 off 67 balls in opposition to England on the Wankhede, an innings that was performed within the gruelling afternoon warmth and humidity of Mumbai. A late-bloomer within the South African setup, Klaasen is having his greatest yr in ODIs, having made 725 runs at 55.76 in 2023. His strike price of 139.43 makes him probably the most damaging batters on the World Cup. After not fielding throughout England’s chase, will Klaasen have recovered to have sufficient fuel within the tank in opposition to Bangladesh?

Amid Bangladesh’s batting gloom, Mushfiqur Rahim has emerged as their prime scorer and most reliable batter. He has been batting at No. 6 this yr, which appears a bit too low for an in-form batter in a misfiring middle-order. The batting line-up, particularly in Shakib’s absence, may do with Mushfiqur at No 4 however he’s unlikely to maneuver up the order.

Team news: Will Bavuma and Shakib play?

South Africa have been led by Aiden Markram in opposition to England as a result of Temba Bavuma was not match. If he is recovered by Tuesday he’ll come again in for his alternative Reeza Hendricks, who scored 85 off 75 balls in opposition to England. The resolution will probably be made on the morning of the sport.

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

Shakib missed the sport in opposition to India with a left quadriceps damage however he mentioned he educated with out points on Sunday and hopes to be match for the sport. Taskin stays unavailable due to a shoulder damage.

Bangladesh (possible): 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Litton Das, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 5 Towhid Hridoy, 6 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 8 Mahmudullah, 9 Hasan Mahmud, 10 Shoriful Islam, 11 Mustafizur Rahman

Pitch and situations: Another sweltering day

Expect one other scorching afternoon with temperatures within the mid-30 celsius with excessive humidity. Jos Buttler conceded he had maybe made a mistake by fielding first in such situations on Saturday, so count on the workforce that wins the toss to bat first on a flat Wankhede pitch and put on out the opposition by the point the chase begins.

Stats and trivia

  • Bangladesh have received their final two World Cup matches in opposition to South Africa, in Providence (2007) and at The Oval (2019).
  • Klaasen’s strike-rate of 147.95 this yr is the second highest amongst batters who’ve scored greater than 700 runs in ODIs.
  • In 2022, Bangladesh received an away ODI collection in opposition to South Africa for the primary time

Quotes

“We haven’t done particularly well against them in the past, so that’s extra motivation for us to come out and replicate what was a good performance against England.”
Aiden Markram on South Africa shedding three of their final 4 ODIs to Bangladesh and having a 2-2 head-to-head file in World Cups

“I really don’t think there’s any need to motivate players in the World Cup. Everyone is well motivated and trying hard. We have had some individual performances, so if we can pool it together, we can have a good result.”
Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan on workforce morale forward of the sport in opposition to South Africa

Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84

Source web site: www.espncricinfo.com

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