Bangladesh faced a resounding defeat in the ICC World Cup 2023 clash against South Africa on Tuesday in Mumbai. After conceding nearly 400 runs while fielding first (AidenMarkram won the toss), Bangladesh were all out for 233, to go down by 149 runs.
Amidst the adversity, Mahmudullah Riyad stood out as a lone warrior for Bangladesh, defying all odds to achieve a remarkable run-a-ball century. The next highest scorer for Bangladesh was Litton Das with 22, which took 44 balls.
Coming in when Bangladesh had already lost half their wickets and with the outcome seemingly inevitable, Mahmudullah displayed exceptional resilience, securing his third century in ICC World Cups, adding to his previous two in the 2015 edition.
Despite Mahmudullah`s late heroics, Bangladesh`s performance left much to be desired. Their bowling unit struggled, conceding nearly 400 runs, and their reply to South Africa`s formidable total was doomed from the start, and ultimately insufficient.
In contrast, South Africa posted an imposing total of 382/5 while batting in the first innings, with Quinton de Kock and Heinrich Klaasen leading the charge.
Although Bangladesh`s bowlers showed promise by claiming two wickets in the early overs, the Proteas displayed remarkable resilience, gradually rebuilding their innings.
De Kock`s century, achieved off the first ball of the 35th over in 101 balls, showcased his exceptional form and adaptability, marking his third century in the ongoing World Cup.
His outstanding performance culminated in an impressive 174 off 140 balls, including 15 fours and seven sixes. He is now the highest run-scorer at this year`s World Cup with 407 runs from 5 innings. He also has the most centuries, and the highest individual score of this edition of the Men`s ODI World Cup.
Klaasen`s explosive style added to the onslaught, as he scored 90 off 49 balls, while Aiden Markram contributed significantly with 60 runs off 69 balls.
Hasan Mahmud was the standout bowler for Bangladesh, claiming two wickets. With this defeat, Bangladesh faces a tougher road to the next phase -needing to win all remaining fixtures while also hoping other results go their way. Their next match is against the Netherlands in Kolkata.
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