Tigers seal series against South Africa

Bangladesh trounced South Africa by nine wickets in the 3rd ODI at Chittagong to win the 3-match series 2-1.

A fantastic batting performance from the openers paved the path for a memorable series-win for Tigers, the first over Proteas.

The 154-run stand by Soumya and Tamim was the highest against South Africa, beating Soumya-Mahmudullah’s 135.

When the match finished, Tamim was unbeaten on 61 from 77 balls. He smashed seven boundaries in his knock.

Man-of-the-match Soumya Sarkar was the highest scorer, his 90 from 75 balls being the highlight of the unforgettable match.

Shakib Al Hasan was the most successful bowler for his side. He took three for 33 in eight overs to break the back of South Africa’s resistance.

Mustafizur Rahman and Rubel Hossain took two wickets each.

JP Duminy resurrected South Africa’s innings with David Miller. He scored 51 runs before being the last man out.

Soumya fell just 16 runs short of victory after chipping his drive to Hashim Amla at short-cover.

The left-hander set the tone of the chase with his fearless attitude, scored 90 runs from 75 balls, and entertained the home crowd with 13 stylish boundaries during his stay at the crease.

Bangladesh openers Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar brought up the highest partnership against South Africa in ODI with their 154-run stand and took their side to victory.

Soumya was the first to reach his half-century after dictating terms to the Proteas bowlers from ball one.

He sprinted to his 4th ODI fifty in only 41 balls, after smashing eight fours to the delight of the home crowd.

Bangladesh openers Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar brought up the 100-run stand chasing 170 in the 3rd ODI against South Africa.

Both the batters were quick to dispatch the loose deliveries and took the attack to the opposing bowlers as they progressed in their knocks.

Openers Soumya Sarkar (R) and Tamim Iqbal built a solid platform for victory in the 3rd ODI against South Africa at Chittagong. File Photo: FIROZ AHMED

Earlier, JP Duminy was the last man out for Proteas when he top-edged a slog and gave Rubel his second wicket of the over.

Duminy held the innings together after the early shocks, and scored 51 runs from 70 balls with three boundaries to his name.

Rubel Hossain bowled the 40th over for Bangladesh and sent back Kyle Abbott with his in-swinging Yorker aimed perfect at the stumps.

Mustafizur returned in this second spell and tasted success with his famous off-cutter when Kagiso Rabada was clean bowled for 1.

South Africa lost their seventh wicket with three overs left in their outing in the third and final ODI.

South Africa lost their sixth wicket with only five overs left when Shakib sent back Farhaan Behardien for 12 runs.

Shakib’s third wicket in the match saw a brilliant catch at the deep from Sabbir, who held his balance and grasped the ball on the rebound.

Captain Mashrafe Mortaza claimed his 200th ODI victim when he picked up the fifth wicket for Bangladesh after play resumed.

After a fifty partnership with Duminy, David Miller lost his concentration, failed to keep his cut down and offered a catch to Sabbir at backward point.

David Miller contributed substantially to South Africa’s cause with his knock of 44 runs from 51 balls (fives 4s) before Mashrafe sent him back.

Mahmudullah came to bowl after the 15th over and immediately justified his skipper’s bowling change by sending back Rilee Rossouw with his first delivery.

Rossouw went for a mighty pull, lost his balance and nicked the ball behind for Mushfiq’s third catch of the day. Proteas batter scored 17 from 27 balls with two boundaries.

South Africa skipper Hashim Amla became the 200th ODI victim for Shakib when the Proteas batter feathered an edge behind to wicketkeeper Mushfiq.

Amla struggled to free himself with Bangladeshi bowlers keeping things tight, and managed to score 15 from 35 balls with two hits across the fence.

South Africa’s batting mainstay in their tour, the in-form Faf Du Plessis was the important wicket to fall in Shakib Al Hasan’s second over.

Shakib reached 199 ODI wickets when du Plessis’s sweep failed to strike properly and top-edged an easy catch to Mushfiqur Rahim.

Faf du Plessis faced 17 balls, scored six runs and was the second man out for Proteas.

Mustafizur Rahman bowling sharp got the first breakthrough for Bangladesh when his full and straight delivery clean bowled de Kock in the third over.

South Africa opener Quinton de Kock wanted to whip the ball towards the leg side, failed to connect and went back to the pavilion after scoring only seven runs.

Batting first after winning the toss, South Africa found the going not that easy with Bangladeshi pacers bowling with their tails up.

July 12, Sunday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium was only the second time Bangladesh defeated South Africa at the international stage.

It was a clinical performance from the home bowlers, who teamed up well under Mashrafe Mortaza to bowl out South Africa under 200.

After losing the first match, Bangladesh never won a series against a team ranked in the top eight.

South Africa never lost a series against Bangladesh.

The third and match at Chittagong in the series may change all that, hopefully in Tigers’ favour.

South Africa captain Hashim Amla and Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza holding the trophy of three-match ODI series. Photo: Star

Bangladesh Team

Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Liton Das, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (Wicketkeeper), Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Mashrafe Mortaza (Captain), Rubel Hossain and Mustafizur Rahman

South Africa Team

HM Amla (Captain), Q de Kock (Wicketkeeper), F du Plessis, RR Rossouw, DA Miller, JP Duminy, F Behardien, M Morkel, K Rabada, KJ Abbott and Imran Tahir