The Proteas completed a 6-wicket victory against Bangladesh by first bowling them out for 84 and then completing a chase in 13.3 overs.
The Proteas were looking for a dominant win. Not only to keep their momentum going but also to make sure that they keep their run rate superior to all the other teams below them in group A.
Temba Bavuma won the toss and his bowlers were excellent from the start, Kagiso Rabada kickstarting a flow of wickets upfront. He dismissed Mohammad Naim, Soumya Sarkar and Mushfiqur Rahim which saw Bangladesh rocked at 24-3 after 5.3 overs.
His third wicket was the highlight particularly for the catch from Reeza Hendricks at Gully. Hendricks leapt for the ball overhead and it is slipped out of his hand as he came down, but managed to get his right hand under it before the ball hit the ground. He finished with 3-20.
Anrich Nortje joined the party to dismiss the Bangladesh captain Mahmudullah two overs later and Afif Hossain was bowled by Dwaine Pretorius as the Tigers were reeling on 34-5 after 8.1 overs.
The wicket of Litton Das would be crucial as remained a consistent threat, but Tabraiz Shasmi (2-21) took care of the star opener to leave Bangladesh on 45-6 halfway through the 12th over.
South Africa extended their domination with Shamsi’s second wicket, removing Shamim Hossain who hit the ball straight to Maharaj at long-on.
Bavuma then removed Taskin Ahmed with an excellent run out from the extra-cover region. Mahedi Hasan fought well for his 27 off 25 balls, but he skied one to Nortje off his own bowling. He then wrapped things up when with a hit and bowled wicket that saw Nortje finish with 3-8.
Bangladesh was all out for 84 in 18.2 overs.
It was far from an unblemished chase as the Proteas would have hoped for. Reeza Hendricks was caught lbw thanks to an excellent delivery that angled in drastically off the seam by Taskin Ahmed (2-18).
De Kock was dismissed by spin from Mahedi Hasan after he was hit for consecutive fours. Taskin got his second nicking Aiden Markram for a duck. SA was down 33-3 in 6 overs.
Bavuma played the shot of the day leaning back and smashing Nasum over midwicket for an 82-meter six. He did his duty as the skipper and saw his side over the line – he finished not out with 31 off 28 balls (3 fours and a six).
Rassie van der Dussen played his part with 22 off 27 but lost his wicket at the end of the 13th over. Miller hit the four to win it.
Photo: EPA/DAVID GRAY