Quinton de Kock made a career-best 59

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Quinton de Kock and AB de Villiers smashed 59 and 49 respectively as South Africa defeated Bangladesh by 20 runs in the first Twenty20 International in Bloemfontein.

Opting to bat first, the Proteas didn’t get off to the best of starts as opener Hashim Amla was clean bowled by Mehidy Hasan Miraz for three runs in the second over.

De Kock and De Villiers made up for the early loss of Amla as they amassed a 79-run partnership, during which both batsmen began to inch ever closer to their half-centuries.

However, De Villiers fell one agonising run short of his fifty as he was removed by Mehidy for a 27-ball 49, which included eight boundaries.

Stand-in captain JP Duminy only made 13, while De Kock went on to score 59 off 44 deliveries, which included five boundaries and a six, before he was given out lbw off the bowling of Rubel Hossain.

Despite losing De Kock, South Africa finished on 195/4 as Farhaan Behardien and David Miller amassed an unbeaten 62-run stand.

Behardien concluded his innings on 36, which came off 17 balls and included two boundaries and two sixes, while Miller remained undefeated on 25 off 19 deliveries, which included a solitary boundary.

Mehidy was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, while Rubel and captain Shakib Al Hasan chipped in with one wicket apiece.

Chasing 196 to win, Bangladesh got off to a blistering start as Imrul Kayes and Soumya Sarkar accumulated a 43-run partnership inside four overs before Kayes was dismissed by Beuran Hendricks for 10.

Shakib only made 13 before falling to debutant Robbie Frylinck, while Sarkar proceeded to make 47 off 31 balls, which included five boundaries and two sixes, before he was given out lbw off the bowling of Andile Phehlukwayo.

Sarkar decided to review the decision, but it went in vain as replays showed that the ball was pitching in line and going on to hit the stumps.

Once Sarkar departed, Bangladesh began to lose wickets at regular intervals.

However, even though Mohammad Saifuddin hammered a valiant 27-ball 39, it was not enough to lead Bangladesh to victory as they finished on 175/9 off their 20 overs.

Hendricks, Frylinck, Phehlukwayo and Dane Paterson took two wickets apiece, while Aaron Phangiso claimed one.

Shakib was gutted to have lost, and said: “I thought SA batted really well, especially in the final five overs. Those overs cost us the match. Overall, I thought we had given 15-20 more, but at the ten over mark (while batting) we were great, but we couldn’t capitalise.

“Their batting is good, and our spinners were good as well, but some poor fielding here and there hurt us. We were right in there after our first ten overs, but they kept taking wickets and the pressure increased. Some areas to improve, with one game to go. We talked about it (our dot-ball count), that hurt us. There should be aggression and sensible batting as well.”

Duminy was ecstatic to have won, and said: “I thought 195 was a good score. They bowled pretty well at the death, some good yorkers. Great partnership between Behardien and Miller. We knew they’d come all guns blazing in the first six overs. But our guys stayed calm, used their variations, and we came through. Keeping calm is quite challenging, especially in this format, but we just think on our feet, and our boys knew our plans.

“Very happy with our new boys and the debutant. Their variations and field placements were excellent. We’ll give ourselves 8/10 on execution. For the next game, we want to end with a 2-0 win. When we came out to field, we wanted to keep them under 170.”

De Villiers was named Man of the Match, and said: “Jonty inspired me to be a cricketer when I grew up. I was disappointed getting out for 49. Wanted to get 70 plus. I believe a lot in sitting from the side and assessing conditions. So I noticed pace, bounce and spin.

“Bangladesh pacers were trying a lot of things, they bowled too many slower balls, and we cashed in. We didn’t overhit, they missed the mark. I really enjoy batting at No. 3 in this format. Enjoyed my catch at the deep, especially since that got debutant Frylinck his first wicket.”