SUPER 8S QUALIFICATION UP FOR GRABS AS PROTEAS END NEW YORK LEG VS BANGLADESH

The Proteas will be eager to secure qualification for the ICC T20 World Cup Super Eight stage when they face Bangladesh at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium today.

Aiden Markram’s men are unbeaten after defeating both Sri Lanka and the Netherlands and a further two points against the Tigers will guarantee progression to the next round.

Although the Proteas heavyweight batting unit has not quite landed any significant blows as yet with only Paarl Royals skipper David Miller finding some form with an unbeaten 59 off 51 balls against the Dutch.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape star Tristan Stubbs also showed some of his potential with a crucial 33 that stabilised the innings after the Proteas were reduced to 12/4 in pursuit of the Netherlands’ 103/9.

The Proteas have therefore relied primarily on their seam attack to stifle the opposition with all the bowlers showing good form in the first two matches.

The impressive has, though, been Pretoria Capitals speedster Anrich Nortje and Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s Ottniel Baartman.

WATCH NOW: Exclusive interview with Ottniel Baartman

Nortje was particularly good against Sri Lanka when he claimed a career-best 4/7 before Baartman, who is the leading wicket-taker in SA20 history with 30 scalps across two seasons, bagged 4/11 against the Dutch.

Markram will certainly be hoping the seam duo can continue their excellent form against Bangladesh today.

“Both of them have been fantastic. You look at Anna, maybe in the build up to the World Cup, he would have liked to have done better, potentially come with more confidence,” Markram said.

“But we had him just before his massive injury, and he was, at that time, probably one of the best bowlers in the world. I don't think that changes, I think just a bit of backing and a bit of game time naturally to get that rust out. And then naturally a wicket where there's a bit for him to work with at least helps. Both of them have done really well. 

“Ottniel is really clear, keeps things really simple, has a nice skill set and that's what they back. So, it's great to see it's worked for the two of them, not just the two of them, probably the whole bowling attack so far. But us as a changing room, it's great to have Anrich Nortje firing and full of confidence.”

The stars of the Proteas first two matches of the T20 World Cup have been David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Anrich Nortje and Ottniel Baartman. Who will join them against Bangladesh?

Today will be the Proteas' third consecutive match at the Nassau County Ground in New York where batting, especially against the hard new ball, has not been the easiest.

In contrast, Bangladesh have only played a warm-up match at the venue after being based in Dallas for their opener against Sri Lanka last week. 

Markram feels they are certainly starting to understand the conditions a lot better now and could potentially be an advantage.

“Obviously, the pitch is quite slow, so that makes it tougher to get it through the ring and at least get a partnership built. That's probably the reasons why it's tough,” he said.

“I think if you look at it from a going sideways point of view, it's probably a bit less than it was so actually that was nice for us as batters to see and feel but still really challenging to score and put bowlers under pressure.”

South Africa squad: Aiden Markram (captain - Sunrisers Eastern Cape), Ottniel Baartman (Sunrisers Eastern Cape), Gerald Coetzee (Joburg Super Kings), Quinton de Kock (Durban's Super Giants), Bjorn Fortuin (Paarl Royals), Reeza Hendricks (Joburg Super Kings), Marco Jansen (Sunrisers Eastern Cape), Heinrich Klaasen (Durban's Super Giants), Keshav Maharaj (Durban's Super Giants), David Miller (Paarl Royals), Anrich Nortje (Pretoria Capitals), Kagiso Rabada (MI Cape Town), Ryan Rickelton (MI Cape Town), Tabraiz Shamsi (Paarl Royals), Tristan Stubbs (Sunrisers Eastern Cape). Travelling reserves: Nandre Burger (Joburg Super Kings), Lungi Ngidi (Paarl Royals).

Bangladesh 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. Travelling reserves: Afif Hossain, Hasan Mahmud.

All images courtesy: ICC/Getty