Cricket

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.

Bangladesh's Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto led his team to a resounding eight-wicket victory against Sri Lanka in the second T20 international, leveling the three-match series. Shanto's unbeaten half-century and a solid partnership with Towhid Hridoy proved decisive in the chase.After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Sri Lanka posted a competitive 165-5. Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis provided a solid foundation with a 66-run partnership, but Bangladesh's bowlers fought back to restrict the visitors. Soumya Sarkar dismissed Kusal for 36, while Kamindu was run out after making 37.In response, Bangladesh's openers Liton Das and Soumya Sarkar gave their team a strong start, adding 68 runs in just 6.5 overs. However, Matheesha Pathirana broke the partnership by dismissing Sarkar for 26 and Das for 36.Hridoy and Shanto then took control of the chase, adding an unbeaten 87-run stand for the third wicket. Shanto played a captain's knock, hitting a 38-ball 53 with four fours and two sixes. Hridoy contributed with a 25-ball 32, including two fours and a six.Bangladesh's bowlers also played a crucial role in the victory. Taskin Ahmed removed Avishka Fernando for a duck, while Soumya Sarkar dismissed Kusal. Mustafizur Rahman got the better of Sadeera Samarawickrama, who had scored a half-century in the previous match.Sri Lanka stand-in captain Charith Asalanka admitted that his team fell short of runs and that Kamindu's run-out was a turning point in the game. He emphasized the need for his batters to make big runs in challenging conditions.Angelo Mathews and Dasun Shanaka added 53 runs for the sixth wicket, but it was not enough to prevent Bangladesh from leveling the series.