Bangladesh bowlers would be happy to have something to bowl to after the Tigers top-order spectacularly collapsed against South Africa in the second ODI in Johannesburg today.  

Bangladesh rode on two fifty-run partnerships to post 194 for nine after 50 overs.

Bangladesh think tank would be reevaluating their decision to bat first after fast bowler Kagiso Rabada had fully exploited the extra pace and bounce on offer at the Wanderers wicket, having caused the half-centurions of the first ODI, the likes of Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan and Yasir Ali, to fall cheaply as the Tigers found themselves in deep trouble at 34 for five inside 13 overs and were headed for an embarrassing scorecard.

Shakib plays a shot leading to his dismissal. Photo: AFP

However, Afif Hossain Dhrubo, in a number seven, had other ideas. The young lefty first stitched a 60-run stand, off 87 balls, with 'crisis man' Mahmudullah Riyad and then found another able partner in Mehedi Hasan Miraz as the heroes of the Chattgoram ODI against Afghanistan constructed a solid 86-run stand, off 112 balls, until Afif got caught out trying to take on Rabada, who grabbed a fifer eventually, conceding 39 runs in ten overs.

Afif scored 72 runs off 107 balls, laced with nine boundaries while Miraz hit two sixes and a boundary for his 49-ball 38. Riyad scored 25 while the 17 extras remained the fourth-highest contributor to Tigers' total.

Hosts South Africa, who wore Pink today, as they do once every year for raising 'Breast Cancer Awareness', would still be pleased to have restricted Bangladesh to below 200 as they look to stay alive in the series and win vital points in the ICC ODI Super League with World Cup qualification at stake.   

Afif brings up his second ODI fifty

Afif Hossain Dhrubo has looked a class apart as the young left-hand batter reached the half-century mark in the second ODI at the Wanderers today.

Bangladesh are 144 for six after 39 overs.

Afif has managed to stitch another fifty-run stand, off 73 balls, this time with Mehedi Hasan Miraz, unbeaten on 20, as the Tigers look to pile up a 200-plus score.
 

Mahmudullah falls after mini recovery

Mahmudullah Riyad and Afif Hossain Dhrubo had stopped the flurry of wickets for Bangladesh and brought up their fifty-run partnership off 74 deliveries until Riyad got out with a soft dismissal against the run of play.  

The Tigers, who were slowly shifting momentum in their favour, suffer another blow and are 108 for six after 30 overs from 34 for five in 12.4 overs.

Riyad, out for 25, brought his downfall by trying to casually flick Tabraiz Shamsi to give a easy catch at leg slip. During the 60-run partnership of 87 balls, Riyad and Afif, unbeaten on 40 off 57 balls, have struck eight boundaries among themselves and negotiated the likes of Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj with relative ease.

Earlier, Wayne Parnell had to leave the field due to injury, before he could finish his third over, and skipper Temba Bavuma filled in with the ball for the Proteas.    

Tigers five down in no time 

Bangladesh batters are struggling to negotiate the extra pace and bounce at the Wanderers.

The Tigers are wobbling at 35 for five after 13 overs.

Mushfiqur was the latest to depart, on 12 off 31 balls, as the experience batter got trapped plumb in front by Wayne Parnell after Yasir Ali was caught out in a failed attempt to fend off a Kagiso Rabada bouncer. 

Before Yasir Ali's departure, Liton Das got out after scoring 15 off 21 balls with three boundaries as he failed to leave a rising Kagiso Rabada delivery, incoming towards his chest, and Quinton de Kock took a regulation catch.  

Liton Das maneuvers the ball to leg side. Photo: AFP

Yasir Ali Rabbi arrived to join Mushfiqur Rahim in the middle but was lucky to stay there as long as he did as Janeman Malan dropped the half-centurion of last match at the slip cordon in the second ball Yasir faced. In the end, Rabada brought his downfall with Keshav Maharaj taking a sitter at gully. Yasir departed after scoring two off 14 deliveries 

Rabada has picked up three wickets so far with Lungi Ngidi and Parnell scalping the other two.

Tamim, Shakib depart early

Bangladesh lost skipper Tamim Iqbal and all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan early in their second ODI against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg today. 

Both the batters were surprised by the extra kick and bounce on offer at the Johannesburg surface as the Tigers were reduced to eight for two after 3.3 overs.

Tamim, who turned 33 today, was the first to fall when a Lungi Ngidi delivery that kicked off the surface had taken the left-hander by surprise, forcing an edge off his thumb as the fielder at backward point took a regulation catch. 

It definitely was not the birthday Tamim was hoping for as he had to depart after scoring just a solitary run. 

Shakib, just an over later, fell in a similar fashion to a Kagiso Rabada delivery as he too got an outside edge while trying to flick off his pads and was caught at cover. Shakib walked off without opening his account. 

With two quick wickets, Bangladesh will have a different challenge than they had in the first game, in which they had gotten a solid start.

Tigers elect to bat first in Johannesburg

Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal has won the toss and decided to bat first in the second of the three-match ODI series at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg today.

The Tigers are fielding an unchanged side that won the first ODI while the Proteas made three changes: Quinton de Kock, Wayne Parnell and Tabraiz Shamsi replacing Aiden Markram, Andile Phehlukwayo and Marco Jansen.    

Bangladesh arrive into this match on the back of a historic win, their first against the Proteas in South Africa. Skipper Tamim Iqbal would not want anything else other than sealing the Betway ODI series on his birthday today. South Africa, however, badly need to win - to not only stay alive in the series but to climb up in the ICC ODI Super League table since they are in a vulnerable tenth position with upcoming ODI World Cup qualification at stake, unlike Bangladesh who are on top of table and 15 points adrift of second-placed England. 
 

Playing XIs:

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal (C), Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Yasir Ali, Mahmudullah Riyad, Afif Hossain, Mehedi Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman

South Africa: Janneman Malan, Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (capt), Kyle Verreynne, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi