Who: Bangladesh vs South Africa
What: ICC T20 World Cup Group D match
When: Monday, June 10, 10:30am local time (14:30 GMT)
Where: Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York, US

South Africa heads into their match against Bangladesh with the knowledge that a win will almost guarantee their place in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup.

The Proteas have experienced mixed results on the challenging pitch at New York’s Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, but their familiarity from playing two matches there might give them an advantage over Bangladesh on Monday.

If Aiden Markram’s team secures a victory, they will solidify their leading position in the competitive group, which also includes Sri Lanka, the Netherlands, and Nepal.

However, Markram is cautious about the formidable challenge Bangladesh presents, especially with their versatile bowling lineup.

“Facing a strong Bangladesh team will be a tough challenge for us,” the South African captain mentioned during a press conference on Sunday.

Having played all their matches thus far in New York, the Proteas hold a slight edge over Bangladesh, who last competed at the venue in a warm-up game against India on June 1. Markram believes that their greater familiarity with the conditions will aid them in better strategizing.

“We can formulate plans to possibly aim for a total of around 140 if we bat first, and then hope our bowlers can take care of the rest.”

Bangladesh garnered significant support in their match against Sri Lanka in Dallas. Markram anticipates similar encouragement in New York but emphasizes that his team will focus on the play within the boundary lines.

“There are quite a few South Africans residing here – it’s great to see them come out and support us in large numbers,” he added.

Bangladesh ready for a ‘good fight’

Bangladesh's coach Chandika Hathurusinghe expressed relief after their win against Sri Lanka in the first match but expects improved performances in the remaining group games.

“Recently, we've been inconsistent,” the coach noted, attributing the inconsistency to a lack of confidence.

“Confidence is crucial in T20 cricket, as the format demands teams to be aggressive from the outset.”

Bangladesh’s batting has been underwhelming in recent games, but middle-order batsmen Liton Das and Towhid Hridoy showcased their form in the T20 World Cup, with both making notable contributions against Sri Lanka. Hridoy’s innings included four sixes in a 20-ball-40.

However, New York's conditions present different challenges, and Hathurusinghe predicts that batters might struggle to hit big shots consistently despite recent surface improvements.

“Adapting to the conditions is vital for the batters, as their success hinges on their adaptability.”

Hathurusinghe acknowledged the threat posed by the South African bowling attack but affirmed his team's readiness for “a good fight”.

Pitch and weather conditions

The much-discussed New York pitch has settled quite well since its debut match between India and Ireland, although it still offers plenty of support for bowlers.

The India-Pakistan clash the previous day saw both teams surpass 100 runs on the newly-laid surface.

The weather forecast indicates partly cloudy skies with a gentle breeze. Light showers might cause brief interruptions.

Head-to-head

In T20 formats, South Africa has consistently triumphed over their South Asian opponents, winning all eight encounters.

Three of these victories came in the T20 World Cup.

Form guide

Bangladesh narrowly defeated Sri Lanka in their opening game. Before the World Cup, they lost a T20 series against co-hosts the USA but won a close series against Zimbabwe at home.

South Africa overcame a robust Dutch side, thanks largely to David Miller’s batting heroics in their second game, which took place in New York. The Netherlands’ disciplined bowling had the Proteas in trouble. Markram’s team had a smoother win in their opening match against Sri Lanka, also in New York. However, they suffered a series loss against the West Indies 3-0 right before the World Cup.

Bangladesh: W W L L W
South Africa: W W L L L

Bangladesh team news

It's likely that Bangladesh will field the same lineup that secured a victory against Sri Lanka on Friday.

Squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Taskin Ahmed, Litton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Shakib Al Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah Riyad, Jaker Ali Anik, Tanvir Islam, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib

South Africa team news

Despite the challenging New York pitch and their close encounter against the Netherlands, South Africa is unlikely to alter the XI that delivered their second victory of the tournament.

Squad: Aiden Markram (captain), Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Ottneil Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Bjorn Fortuin, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Bjorn Fortuin, Tabraiz Shamsi