T20 World Cup: South Africa beats Bangladesh, defending the lowest score

Summary: South Africa beats Bangladesh in the last over, with 11 runs to defend. Wins by just 4 runs in a low-scoring thriller.

South Africa won their T20 World Cup match against Bangladesh by four runs on Monday in New York. Chasing 114, Bangladesh scored 109/7 in 20 overs, with Keshav Maharaj claiming three wickets, two of them in the death overs. 

Meanwhile, Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada struck two for the Proteas. Bangladesh's Towhid Hridoy scored 37 runs off 34 balls. Initially, Heinrich Klaasen (46) led South Africa to 113/6 after 20 overs. Tanzim Hasan Sakib of Bangladesh's bowling unit took three wickets.

Following the nail-biting India-Pakistan match on Sunday, the fiery traits of the wickets in New York delivered another thriller on Monday. In a T20 World Cup where bowler-friendly grounds in the United States have killed the mood of big six-hitting fans, two straight last-ball thrillers with the bowling team defending low scores have brought the event to life.

After restricting South Africa to 113 considering some outstanding bowling efforts from their spinners, Bangladesh, like Pakistan, had the game under their control for the majority of the morning.

Aiden Markram brilliantly caught Mahmudullah near the ropes off Keshav Maharaj (3/27), South Africa's most successful bowler, with six needed off the final two balls. The Bangladeshi batsmen ended the innings at 109 for seven, despite the left-arm spinner bowling three full tosses in the last over.

Having won three of their last four games, South Africa leaves the United States and will play their last group encounter against Nepal in St. Vincent. They are the frontrunners to make it to the Super 8s. With the Super 8s still in reach, Bangladesh also travels to the West Indies, where they will play Nepal and the Netherlands.