This match had the potential to be an anti-climax after India’s win over Pakistan 24 hours earlier, but it delivered a thrilling contest played out against a colourful backdrop as Bangladesh fans descended on Eishenhower Park in their numbers.
The temporary stands shook with fans clad in green and red, some dressed as tigers, as their bowlers wrestled the early initiative.
Tanzim trapped Reeza Hendricks lbw for a golden duck and the decibel level climbed again when Quinton de Kock misjudged a pull and was bowled by the Bangladesh seamer.
Markram and Tristan Stubbs came and went in quick succession to leave South Africa in deep trouble, but they had been in a similar position against the Netherlands a few days previously.
On that occasion Miller was the key batter and his measured approach here, alongside the more aggressive Klaasen, stymied Bangladesh’s early enthusiasm.
Klaasen’s superb knock came to an end when he tried to heave Taskin (2-16) into the stands, only for the ball to skid through and clatter into middle stump before Miller perished to spinner Rishad Hossain.
Bangladesh’s innings began positively, with excellent running between the wickets a feature throughout, as they made South Africa work hard in the field.
Hridoy twice dispatched Maharaj over the ropes – the first courtesy of a biff down the ground in the ninth over, and the second whipped over square leg five overs later.
There was a pivotal moment off the second ball of the 17th over when a delivery from Ottneil Baartman hit Mahmudullah on the pad and the ball raced away for four byes.
However, because Mahmudullah was given out lbw on the field by the umpire – subsequently overturned on review – the ball went dead the moment the finger was raised, which meant the four byes did not count.
It might not have been so crucial had Hridoy’s lbw review, after he was struck on the pad attempting work Rabada off his legs, been overturned.
But the technology showed the ball was just clipping leg stump so Hridoy had to go and Bangladesh’s hopes – despite Maharaj almost blowing it with two full bungers – effectively went with him.
