Bangladesh Upset South Africa To Keep Hopes Alive

Bangladesh Upset South Africa To Keep Hopes Alive

Bangladesh celebrated a win over South Africa that means they can still qualify for the final

©REUTERS / Action Images

Bangladesh 132-7 (Mohammad Ashraful 40) beat
South Africa 129-7 (Ontong 41) by three wickets
Tri-Nations Twenty20, Harare

Bangladesh beat South Africa by three wickets to take their second straight victory and maintain their hopes of reaching the final of the Tri-Nations Twenty20 tournament in Harare.

Mohammad Ashraful top scored with 40 and an unbeaten 27 in 26 balls from Ziaur Rahman helped them chase down a target of 130 to win with a ball to spare.

After South Africa had posted a modest score of 129 for seven, they fought desperately to keep themselves in the game, Marchant de Lange taking three for 25 but Bangladesh eventually held their nerve and inched over the finishing line.

Justin Ontong had earlier top scored with 41 in South Africa's innings, in which Elias Sunny took two for 21.

Hashim Amla hit 20 in 19 balls but he was the only other player to make much of an impression although Farhaan Behardien (16), Faf du Plessis (13) and Albie Morkel (12) all made starts.

A wicket apiece for Mashrafe Mortaza, Mahmudullah and Rahman, along with Sunny's dismisals of du Plessis and Behardien, checked the Proteas' progress.

In reply, Bangladesh started poorly with Junaid Siddique (5), Anamul Haque (4), Mushfiqur Rahim (7) and Nasir Hossain (0) giving the bowlers little to worry about.

However, Ashraful was scoring the bulk of the runs at the other end in making 40 in as many balls with six fours before he was the fifth man out with the score on 84.

Mahmudullah (28) and Rahman then combined in a crucial partnership, adding 40 for the sixth wicket to take Bangladesh to the brink.

Mahmudullah and Farhad Reza (1) fell inside the last two overs but Bangladesh were not to be denied.

With Zimbabwe playing South Africa in the final group game tomorrow (23rd June), Bangladesh face a nervous wait for two things. First, whether they make it through, and then who they might face.

© Cricket World 2012