The game reached a dramatic climax as Bangladesh, chasing 114, needed just six runs from the final two balls.Maharaj, tasked with defending 11 runs in the last over, bowled a full toss that seemed destined for the boundary. Mahmudullah, on strike, seized the opportunity with a powerful swing, but Markram’s sharp catch near the boundary line turned the game on its head.
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“You’re always pretty nervous in the final over in a game like that. It was always on a knife’s edge, it can make you mentally tired. Sometimes you get on the right side, sometimes not, but it’s very entertaining,” Markram said during the post-match presentation.
Reflecting on the pivotal moment, Markram added, “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 emphasized the strategic decision to rely on their seamers to prolong the game and create pressure.
“Depending on the situation, you want to drag the game as long as you can, so you use quicks to attack. Today was one of those days where the seamers were bowling well, we wanted to drag it to the end where anything could happen in the last over,” he explained.
Despite a challenging day with the bat, South Africa’s innings was bolstered by a vital 79-run partnership between David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen, leading to a defendable score of 113/6. Markram praised their resilience, 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.”
With this victory, South Africa notched up their third consecutive win in the tournament, positioning themselves just a step away from advancing to the Super 8 phase.
(With inputs from ANI)