World Cup: Mahmudullah's valiant ton in vain as South Africa's juggernaut rolls on after de Kock's heroics

Image Source : AP Heinrich Klaasen and Quinton de Kock vs Bangladesh in Mumbai on Oct 24, 2023

Bangladesh suffered a huge 149-run defeat in their fifth World Cup 2023 match against South Africa on Tuesday, October 24. The star wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock recorded a memorable knock of 174 runs, the highest score in the tournament, to boost the Proteas to second spot in the points table.

South Africa managed to register another huge total of 382 runs batting first after carnage from de Kock and Heinrich Klaasen. This was the seventh consecutive 300-plus score while batting first from South Africa and the third-biggest ever total at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium in ODIs.

Captain Temba Bavuma missed the second successive game while pacer Lizaad Williams made his World Cup debut replacing injured Lungi Ngidi. South Africa lost Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen cheaply but de Kock's astonishing knock. The wicketkeeper batter, playing in his last World Cup, registered his third century in a single edition to score 174 runs off 140 balls and shattered many records.

Klaasen also continued his red-hot form by smashing 90 runs off just 49 balls while stand-in skipper Aiden Markram added crucial 60 runs. South Africa impressively pulled off 144 runs in the last 10 overs to put 382 runs for 5 wickets on the scoreboard.

While chasing an impossible target, Bangladesh openers Litton Das and Tanzid Hasan added 30 runs for the first wicket. Marcon Jansen dismissed Tanzid and next batter Najmul Shanto on back-to-back deliveries in the sixth over to put South Africa in firm control of the game.

Mahmudullah single-handedly kept Bangladesh alive in the game by scoring 111 runs off 111 balls, his third World Cup century but his remarkable efforts were in vain as South Africa registered another mega win. Gerald Coetzee took three wickets while Marco Jansen and Lizaad picked two each to bowl out Bangladesh on 233 runs.