MUMBAI: South Africa are motivated by the desire to prove themselves against Bangladesh, Aiden Markram said on Monday as he called on the team to build on their massive 229-run World Cup victory over England.

Bangladesh have won three of their last four One-day International meetings with South Africa, including a 38-run win at the 2019 World Cup.

“We haven’t done particularly well against them in the past, so that’s extra motivation for us to come out and replicate what was a good performance against England,” Markram told reporters ahead of Tuesday’s game in Mumbai.

“From an intensity level and a standards level, that’s something that we’re going to try to focus on and trust that if we take care of those sorts of things, hopefully it’s enough for us on the day.

“They’re a fantastic team. If you don’t rock up on the day and if your skills let you down against a team like Bangladesh, you will be put under a lot of pressure. That’s probably where we’ve got it wrong in the past.”

Markram added that Heinrich Klaasen, who scored a blistering 109 from 67 balls in the win over England, was working hard to be back up to speed after looking spent while batting in hot and humid conditions in Mumbai.

“He certainly was manned down. The conditions were pretty brutal. He did a lot of hard work for us out there and I think it took quite a lot out of him,” Markram said.

“He pulled up nicely after the game. The body was really sore and he was quite fatigued. But he’s been trying to get treatment and rest yesterday and very much so the same today in order to get himself good.

“You will do well to keep him off the cricket field. He’s quite a tough guy and he’ll be itching to go again tomorrow, I’m sure.”

SHAKIB STILL EYEING SEMIS

Meanwhile, Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan said the Tigers “still harbour the dream” of a World Cup semi-final.

Bangladesh have lost three of their four World Cup games, including a seven-wicket defeat by India last time out, with the top four at the end of all-play-all phase involving the 10 competing teams going through to the knockout stages.

Bangladesh defeated the Proteas 2-1 in an ODI series in South Africa last year.

But Shakib, aiming to be fit to face South Africa after missing the India match with a thigh injury, told a pre-match press conference on Monday: “We have to take it one game at a time.

“It doesn’t matter if you win or lose your last game in a World Cup. What matters is who is performing better on the day.”

He added: “We saw South Africa flying high. We saw them lose to the Netherlands. They played brilliantly against England. We will try to play our best cricket and see where we are.

“We still harbour the dream [of a semi-final]. Other teams are helping us also, so if we can help ourselves, it can happen. We still have the chance on paper.”

South Africa will return to the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai just days after piling up a mammoth 399-7 against England.

“It is a high-scoring ground,” said Shakib.

“Still, we are planning to restrict them for a lower total. We are taking inspiration from how the Netherlands restricted them. We have been looking at their weaknesses.”

As for his own fitness, the 36-year-old spin-bowling all-rounder, said: “If there’s no problem with running, I can play tomorrow (Tuesday). I wasn’t a hundred percent before the India game.

“It was also important that I don’t risk the rest of the World Cup. I am in good shape now. I am pain free.”

Bangladesh’s Taskin Ahmed has, however, already been ruled out of the South Africa match, with the paceman still sidelined by a shoulder injury.

Shakib explained he was being spared from facing the Proteas to ensure his fitness for the remainder of the World Cup.

“Taskin is not available for tomorrow’s game. He will be available after tomorrow’s game,” said Shakib. “He has a shoulder issue that he has had for the last two games.

“The doctor decided a bit of rest will get him fit for the last four games.”

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2023