Shakib returns as Bangladesh bowl 1st in WC game against SA

Bangladesh Captain Shakib Al Hasan who returned to
the squad after recovering from his thigh injury lost the all important toss
against South Africa in batting paradise of the Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium
today.

South Africa stand in Captain Aiden Markram unsurprisingly opted to bat first
in a pitch where South Africa plundered defending champions England bowlers
all corner of the park to post 399-7 and then secured a record 229-run
victory.

Regular Captain Temba Bavuma again missed the match as he failed to recover
from the illness which also forced him to miss out the last game against
England.

With Shakib returning to the side, out of form batter Towhid Hridoy made his
way for Bangladesh’s only change in the match.

“Hridoy is not playing, I come in the team for him. Today is an important
game, we have to play our best cricket to win against South Africa. I don’t
mind bowling first. If we restrict them to a respectable total, we can chase
it down,” Shakib said after the match.

Bangladesh won their first match against Afghanistan but lost the last three
matches on the trot.

South Africa also brought up a change with Lizzad Williams making his World
Cup debut, replacing injured pacer Lungi Ngidi.

“We’ll try to approach in a similar way to the English game. It’s really hot.
It took a toll on everyone, it’s advantage fielding in the evening,” Markram
said.

“Anyone can beat anyone in World Cup. We took lesson from that Netherlands
game, it’s a new day today. We need to try and repeat the same thing.”

Line Ups:

Bangladesh: Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Liton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al
Hasan(c), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Mahmudullah Riyad, Nasum
Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam and Hasan Mahmud

South Africa: Quinton de Kock(w), Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen,
Aiden Markram(c), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Gerald
Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada and Lizaad Williams. (BSS)