South Africa, Bangladesh and World Cups. It has been quite an interesting story so far. The results have always been extreme. When the two teams met for the first time on the World Cup stage in 2003, it was South Africa who thrashed the Bangla Tigers by 10 wickets.
In 2007, it was Bangladesh’s turn to spoil South Africa’s plan. The Bangla Tigers roared loud as their left arm spinners, spun a web too strong for the South African batsmen – a 67-run victory for the Bangladeshi team.
In 2011 at their home turf, Bangladesh was bundled out for just 78 runs and handed South Africa an easy win. And now, it has been Bangladesh’s turn once again as they rose to the occasion and tasted a famous victory over the Proteas by 21 runs at the Oval.
But this win against South Africa is different. While the one in 2007 was termed as an “upset”, it would be a big mistake to count this as another.
With the win, Bangladesh has reconfirmed that they are quite a force to reckon with in World Cricket.
Here is how they went about scripting this famous win.
1. The Start
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, it was essential for Bangladesh to get a good start; and Bangladesh’s openers didn’t disappoint. Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar got Bangladesh off to a flier. When Tamim departed, the scoreboard already had 60 odd runs in 8 overs.
Soumya Sarkar played the aggressor to perfection and while the scoreboard will only read 42 off 30 balls to his name, a counter-attacking innings meant that it was South Africa who were on the back foot.
Having played an extra-seamer in an attempt to attack the Bangladesh openers, Sarkar smashed the South African pacers and made sure that their plan failed.
As was evident, South Africa didn’t have any “Plan B”.
2. The Consolidation
After the openers gave a quick and solid foundation, it was the middle order’s turn to build on the start that the openers provided.
Bangladesh’s most experienced and dependable men did exactly that. Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim first brought about a calm in the innings, kept it cool and in the meanwhile, built a steady stand for the third wicket.
The duo added 142 for the third wicket while Mushfiqur alone added 71 of 68 in the partnership and Shakib contributed 69 of 73 balls. It was this partnership that put them well in the course of a total around the 300-run mark.
3. The late resurgence
Mahmudullah and Mosaddek Hossain ensured that the job done so far did not go in vain. The duo provided the Bangladesh batting with the much-needed impetus during the death overs.
Adding 66 runs for the sixth wicket in no time, the partnership led Bangladesh to a total which proved to be a match-winning one in the end.
330 runs on the board was a job well done under any condition and on any ground of the world. Mahmudullah remained unbeaten at 46 and his innings like the 42 from Soumya Sarkar at the top of the order was equally crucial.
4. The run out
Post the first innings, when the Bangladesh side took the field to try and defend 330, South Africa got off to a decent start, cautious but on its way to the target.
However, a catch off the in-form Quinton de Kock went down but wicketkeeper Mushfiqur who had done everything right up till then, despite dropping the catch, sensed a run out opportunity and dismissed de Kock with a direct hit. That run out changed things for Bangladesh.
5. Held on to the nerves
The match was going down to the final stages. Faf du Plessis stood firm between Bangladesh and victory.
But Bangladesh held on to their nerves, kept bowling in the right areas as Shakib cleaned du Plessis up with a beauty of a delivery.
Post his wicket, the required run rate went up and Bangladesh did not give any easy runs to the opposition despite a few misfields here and there.
Bangladesh had registered a famous win at the Oval – another testimony to the value of hard work and meticulous planning.