Big picture: Crucial game for Bangladesh
South Africa have scored 300-plus every time they have batted first in this World Cup – with their top order laying a strong platform for a powerful finish, of which Heinrich Klaasen and Marco Jansen provided a devastating example at the Wankhede.
While South Africa are well placed to push for a semi-final spot, Bangladesh are struggling to be a serious contender, having lost three games – to England, New Zealand and India – after an opening victory against Afghanistan. They are one of four teams stuck on one win after four matches, and another defeat will almost certainly extinguish their flickering chances of qualification.
Mushfiqur Rahim has been their best batter, with the likes of Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy and Mehidy Hasan Miraz unable to make significant contributions in the middle order. Tanzid Hasan scored a fifty against India after a tough start to his international career, while Litton Das has been hot and cold at the top of the order. Whether Shakib Al Hasan, who missed their previous game against India with a niggle, is passed fit to play is critical, as Bangladesh will be without the injured Taskin Ahmed once again.
Form guide
South Africa WLWWW (last five ODIs, most recent first)
Bangladesh LLLWL
In the spotlight: Klaasen and Mushfiqur
Team news: Will Bavuma and Shakib play?
South Africa (probable): 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Temba Bavuma (capt)/Reeza Hendricks, 3 Rassie van der Dussen, 4 Aiden Markram, 5 Heinrich Klaasen, 6 David Miller, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Gerald Coetzee, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Lungi Ngidi
Shakib missed the game against India with a left quadriceps injury but he said he trained without issues on Sunday and is likely to be fit for the game. Taskin remains unavailable because of a shoulder injury.
Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Litton Das, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 5 Towhid Hridoy, 6 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 8 Mahmudullah, 9 Hasan Mahmud, 10 Shoriful Islam, 11 Mustafizur Rahman
Pitch and conditions: Another sweltering day
Expect another hot afternoon with temperatures in the mid-30 celsius with high humidity. Jos Buttler conceded he had perhaps made a mistake by fielding first in such conditions on Saturday, so expect the team that wins the toss to bat first on a flat Wankhede pitch and wear out the opposition by the time the chase begins.
Stats and trivia
- Bangladesh have outplayed South Africa in two of their three World Cup matches, in Providence (2007) and at The Oval (2019). South Africa won the game in Mirpur (2011) with a huge margin of 206 runs.
- Klaasen’s strike-rate of 147.95 this year is the second highest among batters who have scored more than 700 runs in ODIs.
- In 2022, Bangladesh won an away ODI series against South Africa for the first time
Quotes
“We haven’t done particularly well against them in the past, so that’s extra motivation for us to come out and replicate what was a good performance against England.”
Aiden Markram on South Africa losing three of their last four ODIs to Bangladesh and having a 2-2 head-to-head record in World Cups
“I really don’t think there’s any need to motivate players in the World Cup. Everyone is well motivated and trying hard. We have had some individual performances, so if we can pool it together, we can have a good result.”
Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan on team morale ahead of the game against South Africa
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84
