New York: Spinner Keshav Maharaj claimed two wickets while defending 10 runs in the final over as South Africa came up with a brilliant bowling effort to defend the lowest score in the history of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup to beat Bangladesh by four runs in a Group D match at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium here.
With Bangladesh needing 11 runs to chase a target of 114 successfully, Maharaj bagged the wickets of Mahmudullah (20) and Jaker Ali (8) as Bangladesh were restricted to 109/7 in 20 overs. This is South Africa's third win in as many matches and has virtually sealed a place in the Super 8 stage.
No team had ever successfully defended a total as low as 113/6 in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup history, but South Africa’s attack pulled off a Manhattan miracle. After Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller had rescued the Proteas with a 79-run stand, Pacers Kagiso Rabada (2/19) and Anrich Nortje (2/17) played crucial roles in limiting the Bangladesh batting line-up.
Towhid Hridoy almost played a winning hand with his sparkling 37 (34), but it all came down to a dramatic final over by Keshav Maharaj. After dismissing Jaker Ali (8 from 9), Maharaj was inches away from conceding the final runs, with Mahmudullah caught on the fence for 20 (27) with Bangladesh needing six to win from the final two balls.
