Related Links : Twenty20 World Championship 2007 : Scorecard
Bangladesh batted as if they were in a great hurry and that was what that had caused their downfall in their Group A Match against Hosts South Africa. In the day night match at Cape Town, Bangladesh were bundled out for 144 in 19.3 overs. The target was knocked off in 18.5 overs by the Proteas with seven balls to spare.
The Tigers were sent into bat first by Graeme Smith and once again the two dashing opening batsmen – Nazimuddin and Tamim Iqbal were sent back to the pavilion without doing any damage. Ntini struck with his first ball which was in the second over when he trapped Nazimuddin lbw but then was taken for two sixes and a boundary off consecutive deliveries by Aftab Ahmed. The next delivery, the first one of the third over saw Shaun Pollock dismiss Tamim Iqbal. Ashraful too started with a bang like Aftab. The Bangladeshi Skipper began with a pick up shot for a six, a scoop down to fine leg for a boundary and the next delivery got the toe end in his lofted shot to allow Shaun Pollock to cut short his dream innings. The other important wicket of Aftab Ahmed fell in the 5th over with Morne Morkel hitting his stumps with a straight delivery. Aftab by then had raced away to 36 in 14 balls with the help of 5 fours and two sixes. A brilliant run out from Jean-Paul Duminy sent Shakib Al Hasan for 19 to have Bangladesh at 77 for 5 in the 8th over.
Mortaza got Bangladesh back in the match with a couple of sixes off Vernon Philander but the medium pacer had his revenge. Bangladesh could end up getting just 43 runs in 56 balls after Mortaza’s wicket. Shaun Pollock took three wickets but at the same time proved expensive as he went for 40 in 3.3 overs. The best bowlers were Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander with both of them taking two wickets each conceding lesser than 6.00 runs per over.
Jean-Paul Duminy opened the batting in the absence of Herschelle Gibbs, who was rested because of a hamstring injury. Duminy went onto put 65 for the opening stand along with Skipper Graeme Smith in 8.4 overs. Out of those runs, Duminy scored 36 from 28 with 4 fours and a six. Graeme Smith too didn’t go onto make a fifty, falling for 41 from 34 with 6 fours. It was left hander Albie Morkel who got South Africa racing to victory with his 29-ball 41 with 3 fours and two sixes. The match was won in the fifth ball of the 19th over with Justin Kemp sending one out of the ground. The Man of the Match award went to Morne Morkel for his good bowling spell. Bangladesh ended up getting just another 43 runs in 56 balls after Mortaza’s wicket. Shaun Pollock took three wickets but at the same time proved expensive as he went for 40 in 3.3 overs. The best bowlers were Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander with both of them taking two wickets each conceding lesser than 6.00 runs per over.
Jean-Paul Duminy opened the batting in the absence of Herschelle Gibbs, who was rested because of a hamstring injury. Duminy went onto put 65 for the opening stand along with Skipper Graeme Smith in 8.4 overs. Out of those runs, Duminy scored 36 from 28 with 4 fours and a six. Graeme Smith too didn’t go onto make a fifty, falling for 41 from 34 with 6 fours. It was left hander Albie Morkel who got South Africa racing to victory with his 29-ball 41 with 3 fours and two sixes. The match was won in the fifth ball of the 19th over with Justin Kemp sending one out of the ground. The Man of the Match award went to Morne Morkel for his good bowling spell.