The Proteas flexed their muscles big time at the Cricket World Cup in Mumbai on Tuesday, klapping Bangladesh disnis with a 149-run victory.
It means skipper-for-the-day Aiden Markram and his teammates are now second on the log, with four wins from their five matches.
How they bagged the win, though, would have wide-eyed their competitors again.
🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦 THE PROTEAS SEAL VICTORY OVER BANGLADESH
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) October 24, 2023
A dominant display from the Protea batters to set up a huge chase for the Tigers led by Quinton de Kock & Heinrich Klaasen 🤝![CDATA[]]>🏏
The bowlers also demonstrated a disciplined line & length to bowl them out 🇧![CDATA[]]>🇩#CWC23 #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/3cploSWrN9
After winning the toss, SA decided to bat first.
Opener Quinton de Kock was the big bully with bat in hand, scoring a superb 174 off just 140 balls in an innings that included seven sixes and 15 fours, before he was caught on the boundary in the 46th over.
He walked off the highest runs-scorer at the tournament after five matches with his 407 and also with the highest score at the tournament to date.
🏏 HALFWAY MARK
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) October 24, 2023
Pressure is mounting on Bangladesh as the Proteas have been sublime with the ball 👏
🇧![CDATA[]]>🇩 Bangladesh are 89/6 after 25 overs
🎯 🇧![CDATA[]]>🇩 need 290 runs to win #SAvsBAN #CWC23 #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/Bh3erssYVh
Markram chipped in with 60 off 69 balls, while the in-form Heinrich Klaasen blessed 90 off 49 balls and David Miller 34* off 15 to help SA to 382/5.
Interestingly SA’s score is the third-highest of the tournament - with the Proteas also claiming the first two spots with their 428/5 against Sri Lanka and the 399/7 scored against England.
Bangladesh were never going to get the 383 runs required for victory and when Marco Jansen (2/39) took the first two wickets, with Lizaad Williams (2/56) adding the scalp of Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan (1), the writing was on the wall at 31/3 in the eighth over.