Bangladesh out of T20 World Cup with defeat against SA

Bangladesh's hopes of making it to their maiden semifinal of a T20 World Cup ended after Mahmudullah Riyad's men suffered a six-wicket defeat against South Africa in their fourth Super 12 stage game of the marquee event in Abu Dhabi today. 

The defeat ended Bangladesh's slender hopes of progressing to the semifinals as they needed to win both their last Super 12 clashes against South Africa and Australia and hope the following results go in their favour, where -- Sri Lanka beat West Indies, who in turn beat Australia and South Africa lose against England.

In today's game, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje scalped three wickets each as South Africa bundled out Bangladesh for a meagre 84 in 18.2 overs. The Tigers, despite reducing the Proteas to 33 for three inside powerplay, ended up losing the game as South Africa chased down the total with 39 balls remaining. 

Rassie van der Dussen and skipper Temba Bavuma helped South Africa recover from the early slump. Van der Dussen fell to Nasum Ahmed in the 13th over but skipper Bavuma scored an unbeaten 31 off 28 deliveries to ensure their side romp to victory. 

On a bleak day for the Tigers, Taskin Ahmed's feisty bowling provided the fans with something to cheer. The right-arm pacer ran in with aggression and beat the South African batters with his pace, bounce and swing off the pitch. He was rewarded twice for his efforts -- in the form of the wickets of opener Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram. 

He gave the Tigers their first breakthrough in the opening over when an outside off stump delivery nipped back sharply to trap in front Hendricks. He then induced the edge off the bat of Markram in the sixth over with Mohammad Naim taking a superb diving catch at slips. 

The pacer ended with figures of two for 18 in four overs.  

Aside from Taskin, off-spinner Mahedi Hasan also put up an all-round display -- scoring a team high 25-ball 27 at the death and scalping the wicket of Quinton de Kock in the fifth over to spark some hopes for the Tigers. 
 

Taskin, Mahedi corner Proteas 

[Wicket] Overs 5.5, SA 33/3: Taskin Ahmed gets another one as he induces a thick edge off the bat of Aiden Markram and Mohammad Naim takes a super diving catch at slip. Taskin is getting the ball to talk out there in the middle and that too at a great pace. 

[Wicket] Overs 4.5, SA 28/2: Mahedi Hasan gets the big scalp of Quinton de Kock. The left-hander made some room to hit Mahedi on the off side but fails to read the comparatively slower delivery and ends up seeing his stumps shattered. De Kock had struck Mahedi for two successive boundaries in the same over but the off-spinner turned it around with the all-important wicket. With the Abu Dhabi pitch providing ample help to the bowlers, Bangladesh would be rueing not putting up a decent total on the board.    

Taskin provides breakthrough in first over

Taskin Ahmed gave Bangladesh a breakthrough in the very first over as Tigers defend a low total against South Africa in their fourth Super 12 stage encounter of the T20 World Cup in Abu Dhabi today. 

After being bundled out for a meagre 84 in 18.2 overs, Taskin sparked hopes with the wicket of South Africa opener Reeza Hendricks. An outside of off stump delivery nipped back sharply to trap in front the right-hander, who thought of reviewing for a while before deciding to walk off following a four off five.

Taskin has been getting some swing off the pitch, as did the South African bowlers earlier in the game.