MAHARAJ THE UNLIKELY HERO IN PROTEAS' NAIL-BITING VICTORY OVER BANGLADESH

Durban's Super Giants captain Keshav Maharaj held his nerve to close out a thrilling four-run victory for the Proteas in their ICC Men's T20 World Cup clash against Bangladesh at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York.

Maharaj (3/27) was tasked with defending 10 runs in the final over - the first time the left-arm spinner was required to bowl the last six deliveries of a T20 International.

The Super Giants skipper sent down three full tosses in the over and a first-ball wide, but still managed to claim two wickets to restrict Bangladesh to 109/7 in their pursuit of the Proteas' 113/6.

This was largely due to his Sunrisers Eastern Cape counterpart Aiden Markram - the pair recently went head-to-head in the Betway SA20 Season 2 final at Newlands - who claimed two splendid catches on the boundary to deny Bangladesh the much-needed boundary in the final over.

Markram’s second pouch on the very edge of the ropes, with the ball holding up in a slight breeze, to dismiss Bangladesh veteran Mahmudullah was particularly special.

Had Mahmudullah’s hit sailed over Markram’s head and into the stands, it would have earned Bangladesh their very first victory over the Proteas in a T20 International.

Instead, it was the Proteas who were celebrating their third consecutive victory at this ICC Men's T20 World Cup, which has secured their progression to the Super Eights stage ahead of their final Group D match against Nepal.

“You're always going to be nervous in a final over finish like that. It can make you mentally quite tired but it’s great to be a part of games like these,” Markram said.

“(The catch) It could’ve gone anywhere but a few things went our way so was great to be on the right side of that and get the win. 

“You want to drag the game out as long as you can, it’s all conditions dependent so we wanted to drag the game out.”

While Maharaj’s last over heroics may have closed out the win, the Proteas were once again reliant on their seam bowlers  to deliver a special performance to deny Bangladesh.

Pretoria Capitals tearaway Anrich Nortje is certainly up and galloping again with the fast bowler claiming 2/17. He was well supported by MI Cape Town talisman Kagiso Rabada’s 2/19.

The Proteas batters will, however, be hoping for a change in fortune when they head to Kingston on the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for the weekend clash against Nepal.

It has been torturous fortnight in New York for the top-order as the Proteas once again slipped to 23/4 against the Tigers - which was only marginally better than the 12/4 surrendered against the Netherlands last time out.

A middle-order resuscitation was once again required with Paarl Royals skipper David Miller the common denominator.

Celebrating his 35th birthday, Miller showed off all his experience in compiling a record 75-run stand with Durban's Super Giants slugger Heinrich Klaasen.

Miller’s 29 off 38 balls was crucial in the context of the match and allowed Klaasen to play with a bit more freedom as he finished with a match-winning 46 off 44 balls (2x4, 3x6).

“We put him under quite a bit of pressure but David (Miller) has done it back to back to get us to decent scores,” Markram said.

“Fantastic also for Klaasie to be back in form.”