ICC World Cup 2019: Bangladesh beat South Africa by 21 runs

Kennington Oval : ICC World Cup 2019: Shakib al Hasan performed brilliantly with both his bat and ball to ensure Bangladesh's victory against South Africa. Bangladesh went on to claim the win by 21-run in their World Cup opener at the Kennington Oval on Sunday. 

Chasing a record 331 set by Bangladesh, the Proteas could only manage 309/8 in the allotted 50 overs, thus losing their second match in the World Cup in as many games.

For Bangladesh, Mustafizur Rahman took 3 wickets for 67 runs and Mohammad Saifuddin scalped 2wickets for 57 runs while Mehidy Hasan and Shakib Al Hasan picked up one wicket each.

South Africa managed a decent start but the Bangladesh bowlers kept taking wickets at regular intervals. 

Chasing a big target after Bangladesh posted their highest ever ODI total of 330/6, openers Quinton de Kock (23 off 32) and Aiden Markram (45 off 56) started on a cautious note as the Proteas scored 27 runs in the first five overs.

The first wicket came down in the 10th over with 49 runs on the scoreboard. 

Faf du Plessis (62 off 53) and Markram then repaired the damage, adding 53 runs for the second wicket in the next 10 overs as South Africa touched the three-digit mark in 19th over.

However, Shakib then came with the breakthrough for Bangladesh as the spinner castled Markram, leaving their opponents at 102/2.

South Africa then lost the wickets at regular intervals and failed to reach the set target. 

Earlier, Bangladesh rode on a record 142-run third wicket partnership between Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib to post their highest ever ODI total of 330/6, bettering their previous best of 329/6 which came against Pakistan in Dhaka in 2015.

Put into bat, Bangladesh stamped their authority early on as Soumya Sarkar took the attack to the opposition. He shared a 60-run opening partnership with Tamim Iqbal (16) before the latter fell to Andile Phehlukwayo in the ninth over. Sarkar (42) was dismissed shortly thereafter, but South Africa were then put under the pump by Shakib and Mushfiqur.

Brief scores: Bangladesh 330/6 in 50 overs (Mushfiqur Rahim 78, Shakib Al Hasan 75,; Andile Phehlukwayo 2/52) beat South Africa 309/8 in 50 overs (Faf du Plessis 62, J.P. Duminy 45; Mustafizur Rahman 3/67) by 21 runs.