Whatever the discourse around the New York pitch is, it sure is producing thrillers on tap. One umpiring decision might push some attention aside but the call can be lived with, as Shanto showed during the presentation. South Africa fans can rejoice that they're winning games defending totals and while chasing. Just two more games remaining in New York, and they'll be tomorrow and day after. Two night games tomorrow as well. Hope to see you as we Matt Stonie our way through the tournament. For now, it's goodbye from me, Ekanth, my co-commentator, Himanshu Agrawal, and our scorers, Chandan Duorah and M Venkat Raghav.

Aiden Markram, South Africa captain: You're always pretty nervous in the final over in a game like that. It was always on a knife's edge, it can make you mentally tired. It's always nice to be in them though. Sometimes you get on the right side, sometimes not, but it's very entertaining. 19.5 (full toss) could've gone anywhere, could've gone two more metres further and we'd have had a different conversation. Like I mentioned, a few things went our way today, very fortunate on that to get on the right side. (Will Maharaj bowl the 20th over again) Depends on the situation, you want to drag the game as long as you can, so you use quicks to attack. Today was one of those days where the seamers were bowling well, we wanted to drag it to the end where anything could happen in the last over. We're putting Klaasen and Miller under pressure but they've been exceptional. They've gone back-to-back with crucial partnerships, got us to a score that's luckily enough to win but still one we could defend. Fantastic for Klaasy to get back in form.

Najmul Hossain Shanto, Bangladesh captain: Everyone was nervous, but were confident when Jaker was there. It didn't happen but that's okay. Tanzid really worked hard last couple of games, we needed new-ball wickets and he showed his character. This is the match we should have won, we nearly did but the last couple of overs they bowled well. It can happen in cricket. Rishad is very good, he's bowled well in the last two games and in practice. We've struggled with legspin in 10-15 years but hope he goes far. Wherever we play, we get a lot of support. Hope it's the same in the West Indies.

Heinrich Klaasen, POTM (On the finish) Laughs It was not so nice on the heart but glad to go over the line. The wicket is not great for strokeplay but David showed in the previous game how to bat on this wicket. Got info from him. We got a decent score but were 10 runs short. We got experience and more or less a one-day mindset till the 15-over mark. Hopefully we could've pushed on but not. Win will give big confidence for the boys, we've had three pressurised games now. We're through which is nice. One more to go and then onto the next phase.

Mak: "A neck to neck game decided by strange rule. Horrible example!" Horrible is a bit harsh but the frustration is understandable.

Rahul: "ICC... Please conduct Test championship finals in this NY pitch..."

Stat from Sampath - Lowest target a full-member team failed to chase in men's T20Is (full 20-over game) 102 - ZIM vs NAM, Windhoek 2023 106 - WI vs ZIM, Port of Spain 2010 114 - ENG vs WI, The Oval 2011 114 - BAN vs SA, New York 2024 116 - SL vs SA, Colombo (RPS) 2013

South Africa's new-ball bowlers weren't on the mark

Anyway, South Africa were almost out of it, because of that ball and the penultimate ball, which should've gone out the ground. But Mahmudullah couldn't middle the full toss and Markram, cool as ever at long-on, took the match-sealing catch. The rest of the innings was as scrappy as expected on a tough deck. Bangladesh tried to be proactive wherever possible, stay in the game and finish it off. Of course, no one could score big or at a lightning pace but Hridoy and Mahmudullah almost took them through. Hridoy was a bit unlucky to get lbw in the 18th over, that went for just two runs, along with Mahmudullah, who fell on 19.5.

2:01pm Oh boy, those non leg-byes. They could be worth a 1000. The fact is 16.2 was given out lbw, the decision was overturned, Bangladesh have never beaten South Africa in a T20I (streak is now 9-0) and in the end South Africa have all but qualified for the next round. Apparently, it's not a mathematical guarantee yet, but Nepal will have to win all thee, including games against against SA and Bangladesh, to get through. Netherlands, too can get to six, but need to beat Sri Lanka and Bangladesh for it.

Taskin, at No. 9, has to hit his first, most likely only, ball out of the ground