Du Plessis does It for South Africa

Bangladesh and South Africa clashed at Sher-e-Bangla International Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka, for the first Twenty20 (T20) match today. South Africa’s attack out-classed a confident Bangladesh to defend a total of 148. The hosts while chasing a target of 149 were bundled for 96 runs.

Earlier in the day, South Africa T20 skipper Faf du Plessis had won the toss and elected to bat first. Being a day game, he thought that the wicket might slow down a little bit in the second innings and it would be a wise decision to bat first. But the surface was dry and offered no pace and minimal turn, runs had to be grinded out. Du Plessis, showed the patience required to do that, much to the dismay of the fans, Bangladesh picked up the early wicket of AB de Villiers. South Africa lost wickets on regular intervals, but their skipper held one end and kept on ticking the scoreboard. He played a flamboyant innings of 79 runs from 61 balls, handling Bangladesh’s new pace-sensation Mustafizur Rehman with ease. Rilee Rossouw and Du Plessis added 58 runs at the end, helping South Africa to reach a total of 148 runs on the board.

Still, Bangladesh would have initially been pleased with their efforts in restricting South Africa to under 150. What they did not bargain for was being skittled out for less than 100. Bangladesh lost its openers early in the innings to a second string SA attack san Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander. JP Duminy and Aaron Phangiso – benefited from the pressure they created.

Shakib-Al-Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim tried to steady the Bangldesh innings and added 37 runs together. It was Duminy who opened the floodgates and picked up two quick wickets of Rahim and Sabbir Rahman and then hosts were all of a sudden reeling at 71 for the loss of six wickets after Shakib threw his wicket away to David Wiese, the last 5 wickets falling for just 25 runs.

South Africa put up an all-round show to emerge victorious in the first of the two T20 matches against Bangladesh. The bowlers used the conditions well and mixed it up nicely with their slower deliveries whereas after a strong batting display against India and Pakistan, Bangladesh’s middle-order remained a point of concern .