Bangladesh caused the first upset of World Cup 2019 when they defeated South Africa by 21 runs at The Oval on Sunday. Bangladesh are also the first Asian team to win a game in this World Cup.
Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan had lost their opening matches to West Indies, New Zealand and Australia respectively. But Bangladesh were determined to showcase much better cricket and piled up 330 for 6 off their 50 overs.
Chasing 331, South Africa, who were without the experienced Hashim Amla, were banking heavily on Quinton de Kock and Faf du Plessis. But the target was a little too stiff for the Proteas.
To be fair to South Africa, they were in the hunt for a while. Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram. Faf du Plessis, David Miller van der Dussen and JP Duminy got starts but they could not convert them into match-winning scores.
Pacers Mustafizur Rahman and Mohammad Saifuddin picked up five wickets between them as they struck in regular intervals to dent South Africa's chase.
By the time Duminy joined forces with Chris Morris, the asking rate had climbed steeply for South Africa and it was only a matter of time before Bangladesh wrapped up a famous victory.
It was a great day for Bangladesh who had posted their highest ODI score hours ago.
Earlier in the day, South Africa captain Faf du Plessis won the toss and elected to field first.
On a flat pitch, Bangladesh would go on to produce the highest score of the 2019 Cricket World Cup. Andile Phehlukwayo removed Tamim Iqbal for 16 but not before he had added 60 for the opening wicket with Soumya Sarkar.
Bangladesh lost Soumya Sarkar for a well-made 42 soon after before two of their greatest cricketers ever took center stage. Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim added 142 for the 3rd wicket and played a range of dazzling shots.
Shakib fell to Imran Tahir in his 100th ODI after scoring a fine 75 off 84. Meanwhile. Mushfiqur Rahim top-scored with 78 to put Bangladesh in a strong position.
South Africa had lost the opening game of the 2019 World Cup to hosts and they were under pressure.
Mohammad Mithun (21) and Mosaddek Hossain (26) played blazing cameos while Mahmudullah smashed an unbeaten 46 off 33 balls to propel Bangladesh to a daunting 330 for 6.