Even the dismissal of Markram, who mistimed an inside-out aerial drive off Shakib, appeared to play into South Africa’s hands. Enter Klaasen at the opportune moment with 20 overs remaining, allowing him to settle in before the planned onslaught in the death overs. With a solid foundation laid, his aggressive intent was evident from the get-go, exemplified by a pulled six off Shakib on his fourth ball. Meanwhile, de Kock continued his stellar form, notching up his third century in this World Cup.
At this juncture, South Africa dictated the proceedings, amassing runs at will and orchestrating the game entirely on their terms. However, the ruthless efficiency displayed against England was yet to fully materialize.
By the end of the 37th over, they had just crossed the 200-run mark. What ensued, though, mirrored the onslaught England experienced at the same venue three days prior.
Klaasen signaled South Africa’s transition into sport mode with a powered six and a four off Hasan Mahmud. De Kock, not to be outdone, unleashed an onslaught against the Bangladesh captain in a single over, smashing two fours and two sixes, accumulating 22 runs.
De Kock’s monumental 150 and an additional 17 runs in the subsequent over propelled South Africa past the 300-run mark. While de Kock missed out on a double hundred, departing for 174 with a catch to a deep backward point, the arrival of Miller ensured the onslaught persisted.
As Bangladesh found themselves bombarded by a barrage of boundaries, they appeared bereft of strategies, merely going through the motions, eager to conclude the innings. The last five overs witnessed a staggering 73 runs, and although Klaasen fell short of another century, his contribution ensured the target set for Bangladesh was well beyond reach.
Bangladesh’s pursuit of the colossal total never ignited the spark it needed. The initial approach lacked the fervor expected from a side tasked with chasing down such a mammoth score, and the formidable quality of South Africa’s fast bowling further restricted their momentum.
A fleeting moment of acceleration came in the sixth over with a couple of boundaries off Lizaad Williams, but any budding hope was swiftly quashed by Marco Jansen. In the next over, Jansen orchestrated back-to-back dismissals, squeezing Tanzid Hassan and Najmal Shanto down the leg side to the wicketkeeper.
Shakib, grappling with a run drought in this tournament, continued to struggle. A poke at a delivery from Williams found its mark, and Klaasen, standing in for the cramped-up de Kock, executed a commendable grab, leaving Bangladesh reeling at 31 for 3.
Even the early dismissals failed to disrupt South Africa’s momentum, as Quinton de Kock and Heinrich Klaasen took control with remarkable authority. De Kock’s magnificent century laid the foundation, while Klaasen’s explosive hitting transformed the final overs into a relentless assault. Bangladesh’s bowlers struggled to contain the boundaries, conceding heavily under pressure. South Africa eventually posted a formidable total, leaving Bangladesh with a daunting chase that never gained real momentum.
