PIX: South Africa thrash Bangladesh, boost semis hopes

Images from the T20 World Cup Super 12s match between Bangladesh and South Africa, in Abu Dhabi.

• SCORECARD

Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje set up a comfortable six-wicket victory over Bangladesh to keep South Africa in the race for a berth in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup, in Abu Dhabi, on Tuesday.

The two pacers made most of conditions that aided pace and bounce to take three wickets each as the Proteas skittled out Bangladesh for 84 in 18.2 overs.

Their batsmen then knocked off the required runs in 13.3 overs to consolidate second position in Group 1 of the Super 12s.

With three wins from four matches, South Africa have a match left against in-form table toppers and unbeaten England on November 6.

Although their chase was hit by the loss of three early wickets, a 47-run partnership for the fourth wicket took them over the line, thus giving their net run-rate a boost as well.

Given a low total to chase, South Africa were rocked early by Taskin Ahmed, who enjoyed the conditions as much as the opposition bowlers and got good movement with the new ball.

Taskin came back from being hit for four to trap Reeza Hendricks lbw with one that moved back in.

Quinton de Kock then attacked the spin of Mahedi Hasan for two boundaries, before the bowler came back with a slower, straighter one to bowl him.

Taskin bowled a good line and length to draw an edge from Aiden Markram, which was pouched by the slip fielder to send him back before scoring. 

The pacer was bowled out by the eighth over, for an excellent 2 for 18. 

At 33 for 3 in the Powerplay, South Africa were under more pressure than they would have anticipated, but with boundaries coming with relative frequency, the asking rate was never an issue. 

It took the calm heads of skipper Temba Bavuma (31 not out off 28 balls) and Rassie van der Dussen (22 off 27) to knock off the remaining runs. 

Van der Dussen fell trying to wrap up the innings quickly for a net run-rate boost, before David Miller hit the winning boundary. 

With this defeat, Bangladesh, who are without a point, are mathematically out of progressing to the next round. 

Earlier, South Africa's in-form bowling attack made the most of friendly conditions to shoot out Bangladesh for a paltry 84.

Rabada led the way, taking three wickets in the span of five deliveries in the Powerplay to have Bangladesh's batting reeling early.

He finished with figures of 3 for 20 while Anrich Nortje (3 for 8) and Tabraiz Shamsi (2 for 21) as Bangladesh were dismissed in 18. 2 overs.

Bangladesh lost half their batters for just 40 on the board at the drinks break.

Going into Tuesday's game, there was some pressure on Rabada, who had taken just two wickets so far and had gone for 32 runs against Sri Lanka. But he quickly put any concerns to rest with a fiery display of pace bowling with the new ball.

With a covering of dry grass on the surface and some help expected for the pacers, skipper Temba Bavuma chose to bowl. And while he then opened with the left-arm spin of Keshav Maharaj, it was Rabada who got the breakthroughs in his second over. 

Mohammad Naim spooned a catch to midwicket, before Soumya Sarkar followed him back the very next ball, trapped in front by a beauty. Rabada bowled full, almost at a yorker length, and got it to move late into the left-hander. Sarkar was hit on the boot, and the wicket was given on review. 

Returning for his next over, Rabada might have had a hat-trick, but the ball fell a few yards in front of the fielder at point. 

But he needed just two more balls to pick up his third: Mushfiqur Rahim was surprised by the bounce and Reeza Hendricks at gully held on for a good catch.

At 28 for 3 in the Powerplay, Bangladesh had endured another disappointing period of batting under the fielding restrictions. But it got no easier for them. 

The in-form South African bowlers got good pace and bounce, as well as some movement, and were rewarded for it.

Anrich Nortje got Mahmudullah with a short one that rose on him, forcing the batter to fend and glove a catch.

Then, Afif Hossain, looking to swing hard on his first ball, missed and the ball from Dwaine Pretorius thudded off his pad onto the wicket.

Even as wickets tumbled around him, opener Liton Das (24 off 36 balls), who got going with a four through covers off Rabada, held firm. But Shamsi needed just three deliveries to trap him lbw.

Mahedi Hasan (27) offered Bangladesh fans some entertainment with an aggressive 27 off 25 balls.

His three boundaries included a six over cover off Shamsi, but once he became Nortje's second wicket, Bangladesh quickly folded.

• Complete coverage: T20 World Cup 2021

• ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021