NICK HOWSON AT THE OVAL: A calamitous runout and a fine allround display illuminated an eventful day when families flocked to day four of the tournament
An attack which provided plenty of variety and some good discipline against England look distinctly average on their second Oval outing.
Though he was rather expensive during his four overs, the loss of Lungi Ngidi appeared to be the trigger point for an indifferent display. The hamstring injury which forced him off the field will be a major concern going forward.
Thereafter, Bangladesh batted with a degree of comfort - their downfall during the backend of the innings came from their own ineptitude - and though the pitch was certainly slower than three days previous there seemed to be a lack of potency.
Furthermore, Chris Morris looked hopeless at the death, Andile Phehlukwayo lacked discipline and Aiden Markram and JP Duminy offered little taking pace off the ball.
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Far du Plessis faces a genuine dilemma. Ngidi must be a major doubt to face India on Wednesday while it remains to be seen whether Dale Steyn will be fit to play after a shoulder problem. He has not played a competitive match since the Indian Premier League on April 21.
Among the considerations must be replacing one of their crocked bowlers, though that player would then be prohibited from featuring again in the competition. Releasing either of their premier pacemen would, therefore, be a major call.
Possible replacements are hardly readily available either, particularly with Anrich Nortje having already withdrawn. Wonder if Duanne Olivier has changed his number?
The ICC rankings are treated with more than a degree of scepticism, not least due to the mystery algorithm which accompanies them.
It really rewards those players who feature in the most ODIs year-on-year, which in the current era is misrepresentative with so many franchise T20 leagues seeing many players' commitments shared.
Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan is top of the allrounder rankings - he has not been out of the top three for 10 years - but perhaps cricket's governors have got it right this time around.
A crafty knock of 75, 1-50 with the ball and a superb catch in the field underpinned Bangladesh's victory and gave some substance to his ranking.
Those figures helped him join Shahid Afridi, Sanath Jayasuriya, Jacques Kallis and Abdul Razzaq as the only ODI players to score in excess of 5,000 runs and register 250 wickets, doing so in just 199 matches - quicker than any of the aforementioned quartet.
5 - Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) has reached 250 ODI wickets, he has become just the 5th player to score 5000+ ODI runs and take 250+ wickets (Afridi, Jayasuriya, Kallis, Razzaq). Elite. #cwc19 #SAvBAN pic.twitter.com/vLe4DjByWQ
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) June 2, 2019
Homer Simpson is on shift at the nuclear power plant. Ned Flanders enters and pleads with him not to press the core destruct button. Through the soundproof glass and a broken communicator Simpson Snr misunderstands the instructions, and after a drawn-out tumble eventually hits the button with his tongue.
I've watched the video. You've watched the video. I've sent it as a gif to my friends. You've sent it as a gif to yours. I keep laughing at it. So do you.
Four-time semi-finalists South Africa had their own Homer Simpson moment and hit the self-destruct button at the start of their pursuit of a World Cup record 331 to win.
The loss of Ngidi appeared to derail South Africa
The innings had started nicely. Markram and Quinton de Kock were content, with 49 runs on the board, but a catastrophe was just around the corner.
It's South Africa. It's London. It's the World Cup. You do the maths.
De Kock's edge is put down, Markram calls him through, the wicket-keeper sets off three times as his opening partner does a jig in the middle of the strip before eventually retreating.
By now Mushfiqur Rahim has recovered and throws down the stumps. The Mumbai Indians man doesn't even wait for the replay, nor give Markram an even cursory glance and continues straight on his way into the dressing room. He is well short of his ground.
It might not rival Lance Klusener and Allan Donald's infamous runout 7290 days ago, but it was calamitous all the same.
WICKET 🏏
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 2, 2019
Bangladesh have made the breakthrough! De Kock is run out for 23, by Mushfiqur after a mix up.
Watch live on Sky Sports Cricket World Cup now or follow here: https://t.co/t2nT2XwjLn pic.twitter.com/epujFuImrO
It was difficult not to notice the demographic of the crowd - which was a variety of different shapes and sizes - and not again consider the ECB research which supposedly led to The Hundred.
Indeed, if regulation cricket is as difficult to understand as the governing body claim, too open to an all-day booze-fest, and lasts longer than the typical attention-span - there were no signs in the crowd today.
Indeed, I had to fight my way through droves of loitering, excited children in The Oval concourse before, during and after play. Normally, such a problem would leave me exacerbated but on this occasion, it warms the heart.
Such scenes were also evident during the women's World Cup final in 2017. But this was no final, it was not even England, yet the average age and gender split would not have differed too vastly.
Will Steyn be fit to face India?
Granted, there has not been ferocious competition for this status but Bangladesh's support are out in front as the loudest fans of the tournament so far. And that title was safe even if South Africa had come out on top.
Indeed, the writing was on the wall when their first run of the day, a single dropped down to fine leg, was met with jubilation around south London.
The Cricketer offices are located a mere 10 minutes away from The Oval and colleagues remarked on the wall of noise emanating from the ground, which grew in volume as the game progressed.
They are back at the home of Surrey on Wednesday before they head to the west for matches at Cardiff, Bristol and Taunton. As Public Energy said, they will 'Bring the Noise'.
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