Bangladesh outplay SA to seal historic series win

Powered by Tamim Iqbal's unbeaten fifty and pacer Taskin Ahmed's fifer, Bangladesh registered a crushing nine-wicket victory to clinch a maiden series away to South Africa at the SuperSport Park in Centurion today.  

The Tigers won the three-match series 2-1 following a totally dominating display.  

Taskin's five for 35 in nine overs saw South Africa bundled out for 154 in 37 overs -- the Proteas' lowest-ever total against the Tigers in ODIs. After that, Tamim led the chase from the front, striking a blitzkrieg 82-ball  87 to help Bangladesh chase down the modest total with 141 balls to spare. 

The only time South Africa looked to be in the game was when they had raced off to 46 inside just seven overs without any loss after openers Quinton de Kock and Janneman Malan managed to give the hosts a brisk start. However, since then it only went downhill for the Proteas. 

And the main destroyer in chief was Taskin, who ripped through the batting line-up of South Africa, accounting for the crucial wickets of Malan, Kyle Verreynne, David Miller Dwaine Pretorius before completing his second ODI five-wicket haul with the wicket of Kagiso Rabada. 

Taskin used the extra bounce and kick on offer at the Centurion surface, forcing four of his victims to edge back to wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim, who also reached the milestone of completing 200 ODI catches in today's game. 

Undone by Taskin's wrath, South Africa were then hit by the Tamim storm. The Bangladesh ODI skipper was in no mood of letting this game slip away, going on the charge right from the word go after coming in to chase. 

The ever graceful left-handed opener mesmerized the Bangladeshi fans, who too outnumbered the local supporters in the stands at Centurion, with shots all around the ground. Even Tamim acknowledged the overwhelming presence of Bangladeshi supporters as the southpaw said he felt like Centurion turned to a 'mini Dhaka' at the post-match presentation ceremony.   

Tamim starred in a 127-run opening stand with Liton Das -- also Bangladesh's highest opening stand away to South Africa -- to set up the Tigers for the historic victory. The winning margin could have been perfect if Liton was not dismissed near the end following a 57-ball 48, laced with eight boundaries.  

Tamim, Liton give Tigers a blistering start

Openers Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das gave Bangladesh a blistering start in their chase of a modest total in the series-deciding third ODI against South Africa at the SuperSport in Centurion today. 

After Taskin  Ahmed's second ODI fifer helped bundle out South Africa for 154 -- their lowest ever total against Bangladesh -- skipper Tamim and Liton starred in a fifty-run opening stand to set the Tigers on course for a historic victory.

Winning this game would see Bangladesh clinch their maiden series away to South Africa in any format.  

Both the openers are still unbeaten with Bangladesh on 66 for no loss after 12 overs. 

Tamim has been the most aggressive one among the two. The left-hander even made Kagiso Rabada, who almost single-handedly dismantled the Tigers' top-order in the second ODI, look like an ordinary bowler when he smashed four boundaries in the 10th over, forcing the South Africa skipper to take Rabada out of the attack immediately. 

Tamim brought up his 52nd ODI fifty off 52 deliveries. 

Liton, meanwhile, has been more cautious after being dropped on naught by Keshav Maharaj in the very first over of the Tigers' innings.