Tigers tear apart Proteas
Post 9-wicket victory in 3rd ODI to clinch first ever series against South Africa
Sports Reporter
Even a rain break failed to dampen the spirit of Bangladesh as they recorded a fourth succesive victory at home, by achieving the first-ever series victory against South Africa at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong, yesterday.
The Tigers secured an effortless nine-wicket victory over the Proteas in the third and deciding ODI, after Bangladesh bowlers put up yet another sensational performance by restricting the visitors to a moderate 168 for nine. The Bangladesh batsmen made a mockery of the target by accomplishing the target within just 26.1 overs.
The victory sparked celebrations all over the country just before the coming Eid-ul-Fitr.
Bangladesh was set 170 by the Duckworth/Lewis method after torrential rain interrupted the match for more than three hours and reduced it to 40 overs each.
The fate of the game was decided when Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar started to treat South African bowlers with utter derision to put a record opening partnership of 154 runsthe highest Bangladesh partnership against the Proteas.
Soumya scored 90 off 75 balls, hitting 13 fours and one six. He was the only batsman to be out. Tamim Iqbal remained unbeaten on 61, his 31st half-century. His 77-ball knock had seven fours. Litton Das, who came into bat at number three, struck a boundary to finish off the match.
Rain put the brakes on for more than three hours after South Africa were 78 for four in 23 overs. On a pitch where the visiting batsmen struggled to tick the scoreboard, Tamim and Soumya comfortably milked runs. They went after the bowlers right from the start to prevent them from dominating.
To make the matter worse, the South African side, which has remained probably the worlds best fielding unit, put a shoddy fielding performance which helped the two Bangladeshi openers batsmen. Farhan Behardien put down Soumya at sweeper cover when the batsman was on 71.
South Africa had tried bowling short to intimidate the Bangladeshi batsmen, but both Soumya and Tamim responded with brutal pull and hook shots.
Earlier, Bangladeshi bowlers had come up with a sterling performance. Left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan led the charge with three for 33, while fast bowlers Mustafizur Rahman and Rubel Hossain complemented him by picking up two wickets each. Shakib became the second Bangladeshi bowler to reach the landmark of 200 ODI wickets, after fellow left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak. He also became the seventh player and quickest to the double of 4,000 runs and 200 wickets in 156 ODIs, eclipsing the record of Pakistans Abdul Razzaq who had achieved the same in 204 matches.
JP Duminy was the highest scorer for South Africa with 51, while David Miller made 44.
Mustafizur Rahman took the first wicket of the day by removing Quinton de Kock (7) for the consecutive second time.
Shakib Al Hasan then dealt a double blow by dismissing Faf Du Plessis (6) and Hashim Amla (15). Things got worse from bad for South Africa when Mahmudullah Riyad forced Rilee Rossouw (17) to force a catch at slip, leaving Proteas reeling at 50 four. The guests, however, regrouped after the resin delay as JP Duminy and David Miller
started the re-building process with a series of singles.
They were involved in a 63-run partnership for the fifth wicket and raised hopes for the South African side.
However, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza provided the crucial breakthrough by taking out David Miller, which again slowed down the scoring rate.
In the last five overs, South Africa managed just 19 runs for four wickets.
Duminy was the last batsman to be out when he charged down the pitch to hit Rubel Hossain out of the ground, but Litton Das held on to the catch.
He was out on 51 off 70, including three fours.
SCOREBOARD
South Africa innings:
Q de Kock b Mustafiz 7
H Amla c Mushfiq b Shakib 15
F du Plessis c Mushfiq b Shakib 6
R Rossouw c Mushfiq b Riyad 17
D Miller c Sabbir b Mashrafe 44
J Duminy c Litton b Rubel 51
F Behardien c Sabbir b Shakib 12
K Rabada b Mustafiz 1
K Abbott b Rubel 5
M Morkel not out 1
Extras (lb3, w4, nb2) 9
Total (9 wickets; 40 overs) 168
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-19,
3-45, 4-50, 5-113, 6-149,
7-155, 8-167, 9-168.
BOWLING O M R W
Mustafiz 8 0 24 2
Mashrafe 5 0 29 1
Shakib 8 0 33 3
Rubel 6 0 29 2
Nasir 8 0 30 0
M Riyad 5 0 20 1
Bangladesh innings:
Tamim not out 61
Soumya c Amla b Tahir 90
Litton not out 5
Extras (lb 5, w 9) 14
Total (1 wicket; 26.1 overs) 170
Fall of wickets: 1-154.
BOWLING O M R W
K Abbott 5 0 27 0
K Rabada 6 0 41 0
M Morkel 5 0 36 0
I Tahir 6.1 1 37 1
JP Duminy 4 0 24 0
