Aiden Markram, South Africa’s captain, acknowledged the significance of Keshav Maharaj’s efficient performance in their thrilling 4-run triumph over Bangladesh. The contest was staged at a critical stage of the competition with the Proteas defending a poor total of 113.
Bangladesh needed six runs from two balls as they chased 114 for victory in probably one of the most tense matches ever played. Maharaj had to bowl eleven runs in the last over and he bowled a full toss which looked certain to reach the boundary. Mahmudullah on strike just swung hard but Markram caught sharply near boundary line to change everything.
“You’re always pretty nervous in the final over in a game like that, it can make you mentally tired. It was always on a knife edge thereabouts but it’s very entertaining.” Markram said during presentation after his team won.
Markram explained his thoughts about this important moment: ”19.5 (full toss) could’ve gone anywhere, could’ve gone two more metres further and we’d have had a different conversation. Like I mentioned, a few things went our way today, very fortunate on that, to get on the right side.”
The South African skipper stressed on using fast bowlers to slow down scoring run rates and increase pressure.
“Subject to what position you are in with respect to time, then you try and drag the game as long as you can so that at some point you attack using quicks. Today was one of those days where seamers were bowling well; we wanted to drag it till end where anything could happen in last over,” he stated.
South Africa had a tough day with bat but an important partnership between David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen worth 79 helped them post 113/6 which they were able to defend. Markram lauded their resilience by saying “We’re putting Klaasen and Miller under pressure but they’ve been exceptional. They’ve gone back-to-back with crucial partnerships, and got us to a score that’s lucky enough to win but still one we could defend. Fantastic for Klaasy to get back in form.”
This was South Africa’s third successive victory in the tournament, which takes them closer to advancing to the Super 8 phase.
