Proteas draw inspiration from Springboks

Aiden Markram says South Africa’s cricketers are taking "inspiration” from the Springboks’ run to the Rugby World Cup final as they continue their own quest for global glory in India.Just hours after South Africa thrashed England by a mammoth 229 runs in a Cricket World Cup pool match in Mumbai on Saturday, their reigning rugby union world champion compatriots edged England 16-15 in a tense semi-final in Paris.The Springboks will now face arch-rivals and fellow three-time world champions New Zealand in the final this Saturday."We’re following the rugby as much as everyone else, to be honest,” said top-order batsman Markram on Monday during a pre-match press conference ahead of the Proteas’ pool game against Bangladesh in Mumbai."I suppose a lot of the hype is around them right now and rightly so. They’re doing some special things once again as a team."It inspires us. We try to take motivation and inspiration from them. And certainly, their performance to get into another final provided us with an extra bit of oomph as well going into tomorrow (Tuesday).”As well as the colossal margin of victory, South Africa’s match against England was also notable for the oppressive conditions, with Proteas century-maker Heinrich Klaasen saying temperatures of up to 36 degrees made it feel as if he was "batting in a sauna”."I do certainly think our previous game here was a bit of a rude awakening,” said Markram, a stand-in captain against England after regular skipper Temba Bavuma was ruled out through illness."We always knew it was going to be hot and humid coming to India in general, and especially Mumbai and places like Chennai. But it was quite brutal the other night.”Klaasen, repeatedly troubled by cramp, looked out on his feet at several stages during his innings and did not field.But Markram said he expected the big-hitting middle-order batsman to be fit to face Bangladesh despite a 109 that "took quite a lot out of him”."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.”"He’s a competitor and he’s really passionate about trying to do well for his country. I think you combine all of those factors together and come the end of the game I think you’re quite fatigued.”As for Bavuma, the 29-year-old Markram said he was "definitely improving” but no "final call” had been made on the skipper’s availability to face Bangladesh.The Tigers have proved tricky opponents in recent encounters for South Africa, who like their rugby counterparts are trying to reach a World Cup final with just one pool phase loss – in their case a shock defeat by non-Test nation the Netherlands.And even though Bangladesh have lost three of their four games at the World Cup, wary batsman Markram said: "If your skills let you down on the day against a team like Bangladesh, you will be put under a lot of pressure."So that’s probably where we’ve got it wrong in the past. They bring a great attack that is well rounded now. You can’t just say they’re going to bring fantastic spinners because their seamers have done a great job in the recent past.”Bangladesh’s Shakib says team must take one game at a timeBangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan said the Tigers "still harbour the dream” of a World Cup semi-final as they prepare to face in-form South Africa.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.By contrast, South Africa go into today’s match following a 229-run thrashing of England that got their campaign back on track after a shock loss to the Netherlands.Bangladesh, however, defeated the Proteas 2-1 in a one-day international series in South Africa last yearBut 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. We don’t want to lose him for the tournament, as he is an important member of this side.”This is Shakib’s fifth 50-over World Cup, with the Bangladesh star insisting his enthusiasm for the challenge was as strong as ever."I think it is very exciting to play my fifth World Cup. I have the same interest, ambition and fight in me to perform for Bangladesh...Hopefully I can finish this World Cup on a good note.”Head-to-head recordLast 10 meetingsDATE VENUE RESULT10/07/2015 Dhaka South Africa won by 8 wickets12/07/2015 Dhaka Bangladesh won by 7 wickets15/07/2015 Chittagong Bangladesh won by 9 wickets15/10/2017 Kimberley South Africa won by 10 wickets18/10/2017 Paarl South Africa won by 104 runs22/10/2017 East London South Africa won by 200 runs02/06/2019 The Oval, London Bangladesh won by 21 runs18/03/2022 Centurion Bangladesh won by 38 runs20/03/2022 Johannesburg South Africa won by 7 wickets23/03/2022 Centurion Bangladesh won by 9 wicketsOverallSouth Africa wins: Bangladesh wins: Tied: 0No result: 4