The Proteas faced an early setback, finding themselves at 36-2 after winning the toss. However, they regrouped vigorously, amassing 144 runs in the last 10 overs to conclude their innings at 382-5, punctuated by a flurry of boundaries.
Bangladesh, in response, never seemed capable of chasing down this imposing total, plummeting to 58-5.
Their eventual total of 233 owed much to Mahmudullah’s resilient 111 off as many balls. By the time the 37-year-old veteran notched up his fourth one-day international century in 195 innings, the match had long lost its competitiveness, with no other Bangladesh batsman managing more than 22 runs.
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South Africa now boasts four wins out of their initial five World Cup matches, with their only blemish being an unexpected loss to the Netherlands. On the flip side, Bangladesh are struggling to qualify for the semi-finals after enduring four defeats in five games and currently occupies the last spot in the 10-team group.
An early double blow gave Bangladesh a glimmer of hope for their fourth victory in five ODIs against South Africa. However, left-handed opener Quinton de Kock responded with his third century in five World Cup innings, following his scores of 100 and 109 against Sri Lanka and Australia. His superb form continues in what he has stated will be his final major one-day tournament at the age of 30.
Heinrich Klaasen contributed a rapid 90, just days after his 109 in South Africa’s 229-run demolition of reigning champions England at the Wankhede on Saturday. Bangladesh’s seven-strong bowling attack, missing the injured Taskin Ahmed, struggled, with both pacemen Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam conceding 76 runs from their nine-over spells.
Fit-again Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan, appearing in his fifth World Cup, also faced the brunt, finishing with figures of 1-69 in nine overs.
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South Africa’s left-arm quick Marco Jansen then took two wickets in two balls before Shakib narrowly survived the hat-trick. Shakib, a star all-rounder, however, managed just one run before getting caught behind the stumps by Klaasen, thanks to Lizaad Williams, who was making his World Cup debut.
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Bangladesh were in deep trouble at 31-3 within eight overs and soon found themselves at 58-5. Mahmudullah, who was dropped on 75 when Lizaad Williams missed an awkward chance in the deep, delayed the inevitable loss with 11 boundaries and four sixes.
Before that, Aiden Markram, leading South Africa in place of the ailing regular skipper Temba Bavuma, unsurprisingly chose to bat first after winning the toss. This decision was based on South Africa’s previous impressive performance when they posted a massive 399-7 after being put in to bat by England.
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South Africa stumbled briefly after the dismissals of Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen in quick succession. Nevertheless, Markram played a stylish 60 and, in partnership with De Kock, constructed a crucial third-wicket stand of 131 before falling to Shakib, chipping the ball tamely to long-off.
De Kock, however, continued to dominate and was within striking distance of becoming just the third batsman to achieve a double century in the World Cup when he miscued a delivery from Hasan Mahmud to deep backward point. In total, he faced 140 balls, including 15 fours and seven sixes, showcasing a blend of elegant strokeplay and sheer power.
Klaasen ensured there was no respite for Bangladesh, hammering eight sixes in his 49-ball innings before ultimately getting caught out in the last over.
Watch SA vs BAN, ICC World Cup 2023: Brutal South Africa beat Bangladesh by 149 runs