Bangladesh need 113 runs to secure their first-ever T20 win against South Africa in New York on Monday, which would also be their second victory in the ongoing T20 World Cup.
The bowlers performed admirably, restricting South Africa to 113 runs on the challenging New York pitch, which has faced criticism for its unpredictable behavior. This is the sixth match at this venue, and in previous encounters, the highest score was only 137—a below-par total in T20Is.
However, it would be unfair to attribute the Bangladeshi bowlers' success solely to the wicket. Tanzim Hasan Sakib's impressive first spell of three overs rattled South Africa's top order.
Sakib conceded only 13 runs in his first spell, claiming three crucial wickets, including two batters who failed to score any runs. This set the tone for Bangladesh in their pursuit of another World Cup victory, following their win against Sri Lanka in Dallas.
South Africa struggled to gain momentum, reaching 84 runs for four wickets after 15 overs. In the final five overs, they managed to add only 29 runs. David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen, known for their explosive batting, were unable to capitalise on the situation.
In the 18th over, Taskin Ahmed dismissed Klaasen with a low-bounce delivery, triggering jubilant celebrations from the crowd of most Bangladeshi spectators.
In the following over, Rishad Hossain claimed the wicket of Miller with a bold delivery, further solidifying his potential as a valuable asset for Bangladesh in international cricket. This was only Rishad's second World Cup match, and he proved his readiness for the big stage.
Klaasen was the top scorer for South Africa, accumulating 46 runs off 44 balls with three sixes.
For Bangladesh, Tanzim Hasan Sakib took three wickets, while Taskin secured two.
The Bangladeshi bowling attack effectively combined pace and slower deliveries, often targeting a length outside off stump to challenge the South African batters. They also exploited the extra bounce offered by the pitch.
Bangladeshi fans, who had eagerly lined up outside the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium hours before the match, erupted in cheers as wickets fell. This was Bangladesh's first international match at the recently constructed venue, situated roughly an hour away from Manhattan.
With a capacity of approximately 34,000 spectators, the stadium was predominantly filled with Bangladeshi fans from across the USA by the end of the first powerplay. Bangladesh capitalised on this early success, ultimately restricting South Africa to 113 runs for six wickets.
