Cricket

South Africa's T20 World Cup campaign has been marked by a shaky start from their top three batters, but they have managed to maintain a perfect record with a thrilling four-run victory over Bangladesh.Batting first on a challenging wicket in New York, South Africa found themselves in deep trouble at 23 for 4. However, a record-breaking 79-run partnership between Heinrich Klaasen (46) and David Miller (29) rescued the innings, guiding them to a modest total of 113 for 6.Bangladesh's chase began poorly, with the team struggling to 50 for 4 after 10 overs. Towhid Hridoy (37) and Mahmudullah (29) provided a glimmer of hope with a 44-run stand, but a controversial decision in the 17th over proved costly.Mahmudullah was initially given out leg before wicket, but replays showed he was not out. However, the four runs that were initially awarded as leg byes were not counted due to the dead ball ruling.In the final over, Bangladesh needed 11 runs to win, but Keshav Maharaj's three full tosses proved too costly. Mahmudullah was caught on the penultimate ball, and Jakar Ali was run out on the final delivery, handing South Africa a narrow victory.Despite their top-order struggles, South Africa's middle order has stepped up, with Klaasen and Miller providing crucial contributions. The team's bowling attack has also been impressive, with Maharaj, Nortje, and Rabada all taking wickets.Bangladesh, on the other hand, will rue their missed opportunities. They failed to capitalize on South Africa's poor start and were unable to chase down a modest target.

South Africa and Bangladesh Set for Thrilling T20 World Cup 2024 ClashSouth Africa and Bangladesh will lock horns in a highly anticipated Group D match of the T20 World Cup 2024 on Monday, June 10 (IST). The match will be played at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.South Africa enters the clash with momentum on their side, having secured a four-wicket victory over the Netherlands in their previous outing. Bangladesh, on the other hand, pulled off a thrilling two-wicket win against Sri Lanka.Both teams will be eager to add another victory to their World Cup campaign. South Africa will be looking to build on their strong performance against the Netherlands, while Bangladesh will be aiming to continue their impressive run of form.The match promises to be a close and competitive affair. South Africa boasts a formidable batting lineup led by Quinton de Kock, Temba Bavuma, and David Miller. Their bowling attack, featuring Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and Tabraiz Shamsi, is equally potent.Bangladesh, meanwhile, has a talented squad that includes Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Liton Das. Their bowling attack, led by Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, and Taskin Ahmed, is capable of causing problems for any opposition.The match will be telecast live on the Star Sports Network in India. It will also be streamed live on Disney plus Hotstar app and website.

South Africa Aim to Extend Dominance Over Bangladesh in T20 World Cup ClashSouth Africa will look to consolidate their position atop Group D when they face Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup 2024 in New York. Despite their shaky top orders, both teams have reasons to be optimistic.South Africa boasts an unblemished record against Bangladesh in T20Is and familiarity with the New York venue. However, their top-order batters, including Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock, and Aiden Markram, have struggled for runs.Bangladesh, on the other hand, can rely on their bowling attack, which impressed in their victory over Sri Lanka. However, their top-order batting remains a concern, with Soumya Sarkar and Najmul Hossain Shanto prone to soft dismissals.Both teams will be looking to their star bowlers to make the difference. Anrich Nortje has been in excellent form for South Africa, while Rishad Hossain's legspin was instrumental in Bangladesh's win over Sri Lanka.Key Players to Watch:* Towhid Hridoy (Bangladesh): The big-hitting all-rounder has emerged as a key player for Bangladesh, with his ability to clear the boundary with ease.* Anrich Nortje (South Africa): The fast bowler is returning to his best after a long injury layoff and has been a potent threat with his pace and bounce.Team News:Bangladesh may include Shoriful Islam if he is fit, while South Africa is unlikely to make any changes to their winning combination.Pitch and Conditions:The New York pitch is expected to favor fast bowlers, with low to middling totals likely.Stats to Note:* South Africa's 3 for 3 against Netherlands was their lowest score for the loss of three wickets in a T20I.* Bangladesh's win over Sri Lanka was their first victory against a higher-ranked side at the T20 World Cup since 2007.

South Africa's Proteas overcame a shaky start to secure a thrilling four-wicket victory over the Netherlands in the Twenty20 World Cup in Long Island, New York, on Saturday.The Dutch team, batting first, faced an early onslaught from South Africa's tall pacer Marco Jansen, who restricted them to a meager 35-4 after 10 overs. However, a 54-run partnership between Sybrand Engelbrecht and Logan van Beek towards the end boosted their total to 103 for nine. Engelbrecht, a South African-born player, top-scored with 40.Ottneil Baartman emerged as the star bowler for the Netherlands, claiming three wickets in the final over to finish with impressive figures of 4-11. Jansen and Anrich Nortje also contributed with two wickets each.South Africa's chase got off to a disastrous start as Quinton de Kock was run out on the very first ball. Reeza Hendricks and captain Aiden Markram followed suit, leaving the Proteas reeling at 3-3. Heinrich Klaasen's dismissal in the fifth over further compounded their troubles, reducing them to 12-4.However, David Miller and Tristan Stubbs steadied the innings with a crucial 65-run partnership. Despite Stubbs' departure in the 17th over with 27 runs still needed, Miller remained composed and guided South Africa to victory with an unbeaten 59 off 51 balls.This victory marked South Africa's second consecutive win in Group D, while the Netherlands suffered their first defeat after triumphing over Nepal in Dallas. The Proteas will face Bangladesh on Monday, while the Netherlands will take on Bangladesh on Thursday.

Netherlands and South Africa Clash in T20 World Cup 2024 Group D ShowdownGroup D leaders Netherlands and South Africa will face off in a highly anticipated encounter at the T20 World Cup 2024 on Saturday, June 8. The match will be played at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, with the first ball scheduled for 8:00 PM IST.South Africa, the tournament favorites, made a dominant start to their campaign by crushing Sri Lanka for a mere 77 runs. They then chased down the target with ease, securing a comprehensive victory with nearly four overs to spare.Netherlands, on the other hand, had a more challenging outing against Nepal. Despite a slow start, they managed to secure a hard-fought victory. The Dutch team will be eager to replicate their heroics from the 2023 ODI World Cup, where they stunned South Africa with a famous win.The Netherlands squad features several players of South African origin, including captain Pieter Seelaar and all-rounder Roelof van der Merwe. These players will be particularly motivated to perform well against their former countrymen.South Africa, led by Temba Bavuma, boasts a formidable lineup that includes the likes of Quinton de Kock, David Miller, and Kagiso Rabada. They will be confident of extending their winning streak and consolidating their position at the top of Group D.The match promises to be a thrilling contest between two evenly matched teams. Netherlands will be looking to upset the odds once again, while South Africa will be determined to maintain their dominance.

South Africa vs Netherlands: Third Time's the Charm for the Proteas?The T20 World Cup stage is set for a tantalizing clash between South Africa and Netherlands, with the Dutch aiming to complete a remarkable hat-trick of victories over their formidable opponents. In their previous two World Cup encounters, Netherlands stunned South Africa, exposing their vulnerabilities in the chase.South Africa, however, is determined to turn the tables after their impressive opening performance against Sri Lanka. Their stable middle-order, featuring Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen, and David Miller, provides a solid foundation for their batting. Additionally, they have the advantage of experience, having played at Eisenhower Park and understanding the challenges of run-scoring on this surface.Netherlands, on the other hand, will rely on their conservative approach to batting, building their innings on singles and doubles. They will be wary of the uneven bounce of the surface and will need to devise strategies to counterattack South Africa's potent seam attack. Their bowlers, who were exemplary against Nepal, will look to exploit the conditions and keep the South African batters in check.In the spotlight for South Africa is Reeza Hendricks, who is eager to prove his worth as the first-choice opener. He will need to combine patience with aggression, while Vivian Kingma will be a key threat for Netherlands with his ability to swing the ball away from right-hand batters.South Africa may opt to retain their bowling combination from the Sri Lanka match, with Anrich Nortje in stunning form. Netherlands, meanwhile, may consider including an extra seamer, Kyle Klein, but risk shortening their batting line-up.The pitch conditions in New York could play a significant role, with a new surface set to be used for the first time. The inconsistent bounce observed on the previous pitches has been acknowledged by the ICC, and efforts are being made to improve the quality.Statistically, Netherlands have a 2-0 record against South Africa in World Cup matches, while Ottneil Baartman is the leading South African wicket-taker in T20s this year. Max O'Dowd boasts the highest career strike rate in the Dutch squad, but several South Africans have higher numbers.Heinrich Klaasen has emphasized the importance of South Africa avenging their previous defeats against Netherlands, acknowledging their ability to "squeeze" opponents with their relentless basics.

Dale Steyn, the Legendary South African Pacer, Receives Amusing Bowling Advice from Unaware Staff MemberDale Steyn, the former South African fast bowler renowned for his exceptional skills, recently found himself in an amusing situation during the T20 World Cup. A staff member, unaware of Steyn's illustrious career, offered him some bowling advice, unaware of his legendary status.In a video that went viral on social media, the staff member instructed Steyn to refrain from bending his arm while bowling, emphasizing that such an action is prohibited in cricket. He also provided guidance to the renowned former South African player, explaining that the ball must make contact with the ground once before reaching the batter.Steyn, known for his humility and sense of humor, seemed to have enjoyed the bowling tips and didn't reveal his identity in the video. The incident highlights the global reach of cricket and the fact that even the most legendary players can sometimes be unrecognized in certain regions.Steyn's career has been marked by numerous achievements. He represented South Africa in 93 Test matches, 125 ODIs, and 47 T20Is, taking 439, 196, and 64 wickets respectively. He is also South Africa's highest wicket-taker in Test cricket.South Africa began their campaign in the World Cup with a tricky six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka on Monday. Tearaway pacer Anrich Nortje picked career-best figures of 4-7 to lead a dominant bowling performance from South Africa as they bowled out a listless Sri Lanka for just 77.Despite Sri Lanka taking four wickets, South Africa managed to complete the chase with 22 balls to spare and kick off their campaign in emphatic fashion.

Anrich Nortje, who bowled South Africa to victory in a crucial World Cup match in New York, believes the low-scoring game was still entertaining despite criticism of the pitch and outfield.Nortje, who took career-best T20I figures of 4-10, said he thought the game was "great" and that the entertainment was there."It doesn't always mean, correct me if I'm wrong, there needs to be 20 sixes in a game to make it entertaining," Nortje said. "There's still a lot of strategy that goes into the game. There's a lot of skill that goes into the game, whether it's sixes or fast bowlers or spinners, however it might be. So, I thought the game was a brilliant game. It was still a close game at the end of the day, another wicket or two, and things might have been different. We might have been in a little bit more trouble."Nortje's comments come after Sri Lanka managed to make just 77 runs in their innings, with South Africa also struggling to chase down the target. The pitch was criticized for being uneven and the outfield for being slow, making scoring difficult.However, Nortje said he didn't think there was anything wrong with the pitches."I don't think there's anything wrong with the wickets," he said. "It's [allowed to be] nice for bowlers as well. We are also allowed to get some sort of assistance. It's different to what guys have been used to for the last few months or years. There's a little bit more in the wicket for the bowlers and I don't see anything wrong with that."Nortje's teammate Heinrich Klaasen agreed that the game was entertaining, but said he didn't think the pitch was ideal for T20 cricket."I don't think it's ideal for T20 cricket, but it's still a good entertaining game," Klaasen said. "Nevertheless our bowlers bowled extremely well. The margin for error for the bowlers is also not as big as you think. It's not easy for the batters. It took like almost a mixture of Test cricket, one-day, batting-wise to get over the line. Luckily we didn't chase 120. That would've been very interesting."Despite the criticism of the pitch, both Nortje and Klaasen were happy with the atmosphere in New York."I said to the coach the DJ was on point, there was no interruptions from his side and the crowd was fantastic," Klaasen said. "You can see the people are excited for the competition."

South Africa's pace attack wreaked havoc on Sri Lanka's batting lineup, dismissing them for a paltry 77 in the T20 World Cup match at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. The Proteas' bowlers exploited the bounce on offer to dismantle the Lankan innings in just 19.1 overs.Pacer Anrich Nortje led the charge with a career-best 4/7, including a wicket off his first over. Kagiso Rabada chipped in with 2/21, while left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj also impressed with 2/22.Sri Lanka's decision to bat first backfired spectacularly as they struggled to time the ball on the drop-in pitch. Pathum Nissanka (3) was dismissed early by Ottneil Baartman, who made a remarkable debut with figures of 1/9.Nortje's pace and accuracy proved too much for Kusal Mendis, who mistimed a pull to make it 31/2. Maharaj then struck twice in successive deliveries, dismissing skipper Wanindu Hasaranga and Sadeera Samarawickrama.Angelo Mathews looked most comfortable for Sri Lanka, scoring 16 off 16 balls before Nortje dismissed him. The Lankan innings ended with Nuwan Thushara's run-out.South Africa's bowlers dominated the match from start to finish, showcasing their skill and precision. The Proteas will be confident heading into their remaining Group A matches, while Sri Lanka will need to regroup and find a way to improve their batting performance.