Staff Reporter.
South Africa are up and running at the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia, after the frustration of the washed-out opener in Hobart, as the sun shone brightly and so did the Proteas in their resounding 104-run victory over Bangladesh at the SCG on Thursday.
It was a brilliant all-round performance, that was headlined by Rilee Rossouw’s 109 off 56 balls, and Anrich Nortje’s searing pace that saw the fast bowler grab 4/10.
Nortje picked up two wickets in his first six balls and another in his next over too that rocked Bangladesh’s top-order before closing out the game.
The speedster had solid support from Tabraiz Shamsi, who returned to the starting line-up at the expense of Lungi Ngidi. The wrist-spinner vindicated his recall with figures of 3/20 that maintained the pressure after Nortje’s opening burst.
Keshav Maharaj (1/24) and Kagiso Rabada (1/24) also picked up wickets for the Proteas.
Bangladesh were never in the contest after they lost their captain Shakib-al-Hasan, who surprisingly opted not to review an LBW decision when the ball had clearly pitched outside the leg stump.
However, it was always going to be an uphill battle after Rossouw and Quinton de Kock blasted a T20 World Cup record partnership of 163, with De Kock equally prolific with 63 off just 38 balls (7×4, 3×6).
Teams can do all the research and analyse all the data they can lay their hands on. But when Rossouw is in such a rampant mood all plans are rendered meaningless.
Rossouw toyed with Bangladesh at the Sydney Cricket Ground in their T20 World Cup clash. The powerful left-hander hauled out his full array of attacking strokes – both powerful and of deft touch – as he struck his second consecutive T20I century to propel South Africa to 205/5.
He ultimately finished on 109 off 56 balls (7×4, 8×6) and left to a standing ovation from the SCG crowd.
The pair were joined in the second over after captain Temba Bavuma departed for two, but the two southpaws showed their intent from the outset.
South Africa’s next match is the much-anticipated showdown with India in Perth on Sunday.
SOUTH AFRICA: Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (capt), Rilee Rossouw, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Wayne Parnell, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi
BANGLADESH: Najmul Hossain Shanto, Soumya Sarkar, Litton Das (wk), Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nurul Hasan, Mosaddek Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman.