“If you end up, on this kind of pitch, looking to chase 150 or 130 it can be a daunting task.” — David Miller
Telford Vice / Cape Town
WELCOME to Nassau County, Bangladesh. It’s a beautiful place to be. Unless, that is, you’re trying to score runs in the men’s T20 World Cup. As India and Pakistan discovered on Sunday, it’s tough.
Sri Lanka have been bowled out for 77 there, Ireland for 96 and Pakistan for 119. South Africa, who went into the tournament among the favourites, have won both of their games at the ground but not as convincingly as they would have liked.
That said, Saturday’s match between the Netherlands and South Africa was the first in the four games played in Nassau before Sunday’s mega match where the focus was on the cricket rather than on a pitch that had a mind of its own.
In the first three games, balls that bounced in the same spot were by no means certain to reach batters at more or less a consistent height. Couple that with plenty of swing and seam, and an outfield that refused to allow the ball free passage towards the boundary.
Even the kind of calmed down surface we saw on Saturday would keep the bowlers in the game more than they were in the run-soaked spectacle of this year’s IPL. That should make for a better contest than we have seen in previous T20 World Cup games between these teams, which have been dominated by the South Africans.
The fact that neither batting line-up has put in a commanding performance in the three matches they have played between them — David Miller’s 51-ball 59 not out against the Dutch is the only half-century scored by a Bangladesh or a South Africa player — also bodes well for those who want a decent game of cricket, not just another glut of runs.
But, for other Bangladeshis and South Africans, home and away, all that will matter is putting another two points into the Super Eights bank.
When: Bangladesh vs South Africa, June 8, 2PM GMT, 10.30AM Local, 4.30PM SAST, 8PM IST
Where: Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York State
What to expect: An improved but still challenging pitch, and a sadly still slow outfield. The forecast is for highish humidity, which could aid swing, and perhaps a passing shower.
Head to head in T20 World Cups: Bangladesh 0-3 South Africa
Team Watch:
Bangladesh
Hanging tough to beat Sri Lanka by two wickets with an over to spare would have done wonders for Bangladesh’s resolve.
Tactics & Matchups: Like all teams fated to play in Nassau, Bangladesh will look to field first. And why not when you have matchwinning bowlers like Mustafizur Rahman and Rishad Hossain.
Probable XI: Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Tawhid Hridoy, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mustafizur Rahman.
South Africa
Finding ways to win both the games they have played at this troublesome venue can only steel the South Africans.
Tactics & Matchups: How the vaunted middle order of Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller cope with Bangladesh’s skilled attack will likely decide the issue.
Probable XI: Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (capt), Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortjé, Ottneil Baartman
Did you know?
— At gametime Bangladesh will be one of three teams among the 20 at the tournament — Nepal and New Zealand are the others — who have played only one match.
— Rilee Rossouw’s 56-ball 109 at the SCG in October 2022 is the only century scored in T20 World Cup games between these teams.
— Anrich Nortjé’s 4/10 in the same match is the best bowling performance.
What they said:
“We will have to come back with a new strategy [against South Africa]. There is no other way than to play good cricket. If the batters can contribute we will have something good.” — Najmul Hossain Shanto after the tight win over Sri Lanka.
“We’re playing pretty early in the day, so if there’s anything in the pitch you want to take advantage of that. But if you end up, on this kind of pitch, looking to chase 150 or 130 it can be a daunting task.” — David Miller after Saturday’s match.
Cricbuzz
Bulletproof Truth 