Heartbreak for Bangladesh as South Africa win by four runs

|| CF DESK ||

Bangladesh endured a heartbreaking four-run defeat against South Africa in their T20 World Cup match at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Chasing a challenging target, Bangladesh needed 18 runs from the final two overs. Despite encountering three full tosses, they couldn't capitalize and fell agonizingly short.

 Jaker Ali, Mahmudullah Riyad, and Taskin Ahmed had golden opportunities to secure a win but failed to do so, extending Bangladesh's losing streak to nine T20Is against South Africa.

Mahmudullah had the chance to clinch victory in the last over but was caught at long-off just before the boundary. Following this, Taskin sliced another full toss, sealing South Africa's win. Mahmudullah stood with his hands on his head, realizing he had missed a crucial opportunity.

Bangladesh had recovered from a precarious position, thanks to a 44-run partnership between Mahmudullah and Towhid Hridoy.

Reduced to 50 for four after 10 overs, the duo batted with composure to keep their team in contention. Hridoy was the aggressor, scoring 37 off 34 balls with two sixes and two fours, while Mahmudullah supported with a steady 20 off 27 balls.

Bangladesh seemed in control needing 20 runs from the last two overs. However, Hridoy's dismissal via an lbw decision by umpire's call in the 18th over changed the game.

The decision, surprising to many, saw the ball just clipping the top of the leg stump. Kagiso Rabada, the bowler, and his teammates did not appeal with much conviction, but the umpire swiftly raised his finger. Hridoy’s review confirmed the marginal call.

Following Hridoy’s departure, Bangladesh managed just two runs in the 18th over. New batter Jaker Ali struggled to make contact and could not find the boundary off a low full toss in the penultimate over. Bangladesh managed seven runs from that over, leaving them needing 11 runs off the final six balls.

In the final over, Jaker failed to score off the third ball, a low full toss, and was caught on the next delivery. Rishad Hossain missed his first ball but ran a quick single, bringing Mahmudullah back on strike. With the pressure mounting, Mahmudullah faced a perfect delivery to hit a six but fell short, and Bangladesh's hopes ended.

Despite a valiant effort, Bangladesh’s inability to finish strong in the final overs led to a disappointing loss, leaving them still searching for a victory against South Africa in T20Is.

Earlier, Bangladesh restricted South Africa to 113-6. 

Fast bowlers Tanzim Hasan Sakib (3-18) and Taskin Ahmed (2-19) starred for the Tigers after Proteas skipper Aiden Markram won the toss and chose to bat.

South Africa were struggling at 23-4 at one stage on the controversial drop-in pitch at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.

Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller, celebrating his 35th birthday, came briefly to their team's rescue with a partnership of 79 for the fifth wicket.

Klaasen made 46 off 44 balls with two fours and three sixes before he was clean-bowled by Taskin, slogging across the line in the 18th over with the score on 102.

Miller, who made a match-winning undefeated 59 in the nervy win over the Netherlands, went four runs later, bowled by Rishad Hossain.

His innings of 29 came from 38 deliveries with a boundary and one six.

The Proteas had been 12-4 against the Dutch on the same pitch on Saturday.

On Monday, they were quickly four down for just 23 runs in the fifth over thanks to Tanzim and Taskin.

Tanzim, playing in only his eighth T20 international, started the collapse, having out-of-form opener Reeza Hendricks lbw for nought off his first ball.

Star batsman Quinton de Kock was the next to go, clean-bowled by the 21-year-old for 18 with the total on 19.

Taskin uprooted the stumps of Markram (four) before Tanzim grabbed the third of his opening spell when he forced Tristan Stubbs to spoon a catch to Shakib Al Hasan in the covers without scoring.

Miller could have been dismissed on 13 but wicketkeeper Liton Das dropped an edge off slow bowler Mahmudullah's first ball.

South Africa started the day on top of Group D after wins over the Netherlands and Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka by two wickets in their first game.