South Africa won the toss and opted to bat, but their domination did not begin immediately. Shoriful Islam got Bangladesh off to a great start, cleaning up Reeza Hendricks for 12. Rassie van der Dussen (1) was then trapped in front of the stumps by Mehidy Hasan Miraz as he shuffled across his crease. There wasn’t much joy for Bangladesh bowlers thereafter.
De Kock and stand-in captain Aiden Markram (60 off 69) added 131 runs for the third wicket, punishing the Bangladesh bowlers. Markram struck seven fours and was looking good for a lot more when he perished in the deep, looking to go after Shakib Al Hasan. Heinrich Klaasen (90 off 49) then joined De Kock and the duo added 142 runs for the fourth wicket.
De Kock kept going from strength to strength until he fell in soft fashion, slicing a low full toss from Hasan Mahmud straight into the hands of the backward point fielder. The left-handed batter’s superb knock featured 15 fours and seven sixes.
Klaasen carried on his great form and launched another assault on the Bangladesh bowlers. In an electric knock, he struck two fours and as many as eight sixes. Klaasen was looking set for his second consecutive three figure score, but fell 10 short, slashing a slower bouncer outside off from Hasan Mahmud to sweeper cover. A blistering cameo from David Miller (34 not out off 15) lifted South Africa to 382/5.
Chasing a mammoth target, Bangladesh never got going and were 81/6 by the end of the 22nd over. Tanzid Hasan (12) was caught behind off Marco Jansen. The left-arm seamer had two in two when Najmul Hossain Shanto (0) tickled one on his pads and edged the ball to the keeper. Skipper Shakib Al Hasan (1) also fell caught behind, poking at one outside off from Lizaad Williams.
The procession continued as Mushfiqur Rahim (8), Litton Das (22) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (11) all fell one after the other. Veteran batter Mahmudullah was the lone ranger for Bangladesh, defying South Africa with a run-a-ball 111. He struck 11 fours and four sixes before falling to Gerald Coetzee, only delaying the inevitable.
--By A Cricket Corresponden
