Big Picture
Bangladesh beat Netherlands to notch up their first-ever win in the Super 12s stage of the tournament, majorly on the back of their fast bowlers. Bangladesh will be hoping to put up a similar performance against South Africa with the ball. Taskin Ahmed is in red-hot form, coming off his career-best figures of 4 for 25, while Hasan Mahmud, too, played a crucial role by picking up two wickets in four overs. Mustafizur Rahman was wicketless but economical, while Soumya Sarkar took one wicket.
However, the bowling attack needs support from their batters. In the first match, openers Soumya and Najmul Hossain Shanto gave Bangladesh their best start – 47 for 1 in the powerplay – since the T20 World Cup last year. While the middle order crumbled, Mosaddek Hossain chipped in at the end to take them to a competitive total. Against a South African bowling attack that has more variety, Bangladesh will need to do much better with the bat.
They were on top of the situation before the rain stopped play in Hobart. Chasing a revised target of 64 in nine overs, they posted 51 for 0 in just three overs with Quinton de Kock blazing away to an unbeaten 47 off 18.
Form guide
South Africa WLLWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Bangladesh WLLLL
In the spotlight
Team news
South Africa might drop one of the fast bowlers to bring in Tabraiz Shamsi, who could be handy at the SCG.
South Africa (probable): 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Temba Bavuma (capt), 3 Rilee Rossouw, 4 Aiden Markram, 5 David Miller, 6 Tristan Stubbs, 7 Wayne Parnell, 8 Keshav Maharaj, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Anrich Nortje/Tabraiz Shamsi, 11 Lungi Ngidi
Bangladesh usually don’t change their winning combination but they might somehow try to accommodate Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the XI.
Bangladesh (probable): 1 Soumya Sarkar, 2 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 3 Litton Das, 4 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 5 Afif Hossain, 6 Nurul Hasan (wk), 7 Mosaddek Hossain, 8 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Hasan Mahmud
Pitch and conditions
This match will be played on a new pitch that has a decent covering of grass but is expected to be reasonably dry.
The weather has been dry and warm in the lead-up but there’s some rain in the forecast for Thursday afternoon.
Stats and trivia
- Both South Africa and Bangladesh are set to play a T20I at the SCG for the first time.
- Bangladesh have never defeated South Africa in T20Is.
- South Africa became the eighth T20I team to reach their team fifty in three overs, in their previous game against Zimbabwe.
- Taskin, who took 4 for 25 against Netherlands, had previous best figures of 2 for 12 in T20Is.
Quotes
“(Taskin) is one of the leaders now after Mashrafe’s exit. He has done tremendously well in the last two years for Bangladesh. He is leading by example. We have a very good fast-bowling group in all three formats. I can’t be more proud of how they improved themselves and have come this far, and it is showing in the results. I hope they continue this form in this World Cup.”
Shakib Al Hasan when asked about Taskin Ahmed’s form
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84