Bangladesh and South Africa will take centre stage on Tuesday, October 24, as the two teams will battle it out in match no. 23 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. South Africa beat reigning champions England by 229 runs on Saturday, making it three wins in four matches in the tournament. They also won against Sri Lanka and Australia, earlier in this World Cup. Their only loss in the tournament has come against the Netherlands in the rain-curtailed encounter. (World Cup points table)
Meanwhile, Bangladesh have lost three matches on the bounce – versus England, New Zealand and India – since their opening game win against Afghanistan.
Bangladesh were beaten by seven wickets by India in their last match. Batting first in Pune, the openers, both scoring fifties, got the Bangla Tigers off to a flyer with a 93-run opening stand. However, consistent wickets and tight bowling curbed the Bangladesh flow in the middle overs. Mahmudullah, then, smashed 46 off 36 towards the end, guiding Bangladesh to 256/8.
India, however, made light work of the run chase, winning with 51 balls to spare. Openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill laid the platform at the start while Virat Kohli slammed a 97-ball 103 to continue the Indian team’s winning streak.
Similarly, Bangladesh also failed to register a competitive total against New Zealand, scoring 245/9. The Kiwis chased it down with 43 balls to spare. Bangladesh, earlier, were outclassed by reigning champions England in a 137-run defeat.
The Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan, meanwhile, is expected to return to the playing XI after missing out against India due to an illness. His return will invariably strengthen both the batting and bowling departments for the Bangla Tigers, who will hunt for their second win in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
Openers: Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das
Flamboyant opener Tanzid Hasan showcased his talent against India with a 43-ball 51 to score his maiden ODI fifty. He smashed five fours and three sixes while striking at 118.60. Tanzid’s ability to clear the ropes to pacers and spinners alike will make him a dangerous proposition at the Wankhede Stadium.
Litton Das, meanwhile, notched his second fifty of the tournament in the last match against India. He has averaged 38.75 in the four matches so far.
Middle order: Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim
The Bangladesh middle order will be expected to step up on the batting-friendly Mumbai pitch.
Mushfiqur Rahim, the experienced wicketkeeper-batter, has 157 runs in four matches, making him the team’s highest run-getter in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Rahim has notched two fifties and a century against the Proteas in this format.
Najmul Hossain Shanto and Towhid Hridoy, on the other hand, average below 25 in this tournament. An upturn in form for these two batters could go a long way in Bangladesh scoring freely in the upcoming match.
All-rounders: Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahmudullah
Shakib Al Hasan smashed 606 runs in eight matches, including two tons and five half-centuries, finishing as the third-highest run-getter at the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup. The Bangladesh skipper, however, has failed to replicate his heroics in 2023, averaging only 18.33 in the three matches so far. But with the ball, he has been the most economical bowler for the team picking up five wickets.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz has scalped five wickets and scored 98 runs in this edition. Mahmudullah, meanwhile, averages 87 with the bat while striking at 102.35 in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
Bowlers: Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud
The Bangladesh pace battery, spearheaded by Mustafizur Rahman, will be expected to make the most of the early pace and bounce along with the swing on offer at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday.
Shoriful Islam has picked up five wickets while Mustafizur Rahman and Hasan Mahmud have taken two and one wickets respectively in the tournament so far.
Mustafizur Rahman has an economy rate of 4.25 and has scalped eight wickets against South Africa in ODIs. Shoriful Islam, meanwhile, has taken three wickets in three ODIs against the Proteas.
Bangladesh Predicted Playing XI:Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud
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