Rakibul, Mahfuzur shine in Emerging Team’s series win over South Africa

Rakibul Hasan and Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby's all-round brilliance helped Bangladesh Emerging Team clinch a 34-run win in the series-deciding third and final one-dayer to complete a 2-1 series victory over their South African counterparts in Rajshahi on Friday.

Sent in to bat first, the Bangladeshi team found themselves in all sorts of trouble as they were left tottering at 118-8 in the 32nd over before Mahfuzur and Rakibul shared an 84-run stand for the ninth wicket to take Bangladesh's score beyond the 200-run mark.

Rakibul made a 40-ball 42 before his dismissal to Dian Forrester brought an end to a fantastic partnership, but Mahfuzur continued his good work with the bat and made 58 off 77 balls to help the home side post 225 runs all out in 45.5 overs.

For the visitors, Sesona Tsepo Ndwandwa took three wickets while Van Vuuren claimed two wickets.

The South African side also struggled in the chase, mostly due to a great bowling effort from the host spinners led by Rakibul. At one stage, the visitors were left struggling at 94-7 in the 22nd over.

Tiaan Michael and Nqobani Handsome then put on a 54-run stand for the ninth wicket and looked to take the game deep but Sheikh Parvez Jibon caught Tiaan off his own bowling for 40 to give the hosts full control of the match.

Rakibul (4-26) removed Tshepo Innocent Ntuli for 17 before Nqobani, who made a 47-ball 37, was run out as the visitors were bowled out for 191 runs in 38.2 overs. Mahfuzur and Wasi Siddiqee took two wickets each for the home side.

Bangladesh team earlier won the opening game by three wickets before falling to a 10-run defeat in the second game.

Both teams will now travel to Chattogram to play the opening four-day game of a two-match series, starting on May 20. The second game will take place in Mirpur from May 27-30.