A gritty unbeaten 61-ball 79 by Faf du Plessis and a combined effort by the bowlers gave South Africa a comprehensive win in the first of two Twenty20 Internationals against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Sunday (July 5).
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Shakib Al Hasan (26), who was promoted to No.3, and Mushfiqur Rahim (17) steadied the ship with some sensible batting and raised hopes of an exciting chase.
Eddie Leie grabbed three wickets for economic 16 runs in his three overs spell to be adjudged man of the match in his T20I debut. Then Sunny took wicket of the other opener De Kock, and Faf du Plessis (15) is also failed to show his original performance.
The rationale that a team’s best batsman must spend the most time at the crease seems obvious but South Africa’s coach Russell Domingo relied on statistics to prove de Villiers bats better in the middle-order. But the local batsmen simply forgot that every ball was not meant to be hit for four or six and even a T20 game is more about the rotation of strikes.
“We would additionally like to provide him the peace of thoughts of being near his spouse with the approaching delivery of his first baby”.
South Africa then steadied but could not significantly raise the rate and when two wickets fell in three overs, a shock looked like it could be on the cards.
“We discussed how we couldn’t play according to our plan”, Soumya Sarkar told reporters ahead of the second encounter.
In reply, Bangladesh stuttered from the start of their innings as they wilted against a disciplined bowling attack, who adjusted their tactics to suit conditions. “That’s why we play four fast bowlers”.
David Miller contributed 30 runs from 28 balls and with Rilee Rossouw’s 19 from 6 balls, they put on an unbeaten 33 run 5th wicket partnership.
De Villiers opened the innings for only the second time in his Twenty20 worldwide career and conceded four dots before he picked out Mashrafee Mortaza at cover from the last ball of the over.
David Miller survived a strong caught behind appeal in the same over to put on 34 runs for the fourth wicket with du Plessis (16).
Bangladesh vs South Africa 1st t20 at Mirpur.
“It’s a knock that you’d like to play as a batter”, the skipper said after the game.
Arafat Sunny gave Bangladesh a rousing start, dismissing de Villiers in the very first over.
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The Proteas posted 169/4 in their 20 overs.
