Bangladesh on Wednesday scripted history after winning the third and final ODI of their series against South Africa, as they wrapped up their first-ever series win against the Proteas, winning the decider by a nine-wicket margin.
The Bangla Tigers were dominant throughout the game, as they shot out the Proteas for a meagre total of 154, before romping home to victory, with nearly 24 overs left to spare. It was also Bangladesh’s biggest victory away from home in terms of balls remaining. Prior to the start of the tour, many expected South Africa to run away with the series, considering that they comprehensively beat the mighty Indians a few months ago, and also the fact that they had not lost a game to Bangladesh at home in two decades.
It would not be wrong to suggest that South Africa’s troubles started off with the toss. Captain Temba Bavuma won the coin toss and decided to bat first on an uncertain looking Centurion pitch. The openers did get a flurry of boundaries early on, but it was a case of one shot too many which got a majority of the South African batsmen out. The batsmen’s desperation to score quick runs was capitalised upon by the Bangladesh bowlers, who adjusted their lengths to entice the big shots from the Proteas batsmen, which led to a number of mistakes, and by extension, wickets as well.
Quinton de Kock and Janneman Malan were looking good, as they added 46 runs for the first wicket at nearly seven runs an over before Mehidy Hassan Miraz struck to send the dangerous de Kock packing. De Kock’s wicket looked like the opening Bangladesh needed, as Taskin Ahmed got rid of Kyle Verreyne, who had scored a half-century in the previous game. Taskin’s presence of mind and his brilliant length adjustment late in his run-up came to the fore as he bowled a shorter ball seeing Malan advance down the wicket to dismiss him caught behind.
South Africa’s innings was pretty much routed by Taskin and veteran all-rounder Shakib al Hasan from that point forward. Taskin got a wonderful five-wicket haul, his first in eight years, while Shakib snared two important wickets to restrict South Africa to a paltry 154, as Bangladesh saw themselves at the precipice of a historic series victory against the rainbow nation.
Any doubts with regards to Bangladesh’s tendency to choke relatively easy run-chases were quickly alleviated when Litton Das and skipper Tamim Iqbal came out to bat. Although Das was dropped at point off Lungi Ngidi when he wasn’t even off the mark, it never looked like Bangladesh were in any trouble whatsoever, as the opening batsmen took a liking to the South African quicks, who were punished. Spinners Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi were hardly spared, as Tamim took them apart as well.
Iqbal and Das brought up their century partnership in 18 overs, as Bangladesh looked all set to take home the series. Maharaj finally got the breakthrough as he did away with Das, who had scored 48. The wicket however, made no difference at all, as Shakib stepped in at number three and steered the Bangladesh innings to victory as Iqbal finished on 87* from just 82 balls.
Iqbal’s knock consisted of 14 boundaries, as he was instrumental in Bangladesh’s historic series win. Ahmed walked away with both the man of the match and the man of the series awards for his excellent performance throughout the series.
Bangladesh are currently at the top of the ICC ODI Super League standings, and after a wonderful New Zealand series, where they drew 1-1, the Bangladeshis could not have asked for a better start to 2022. The Bangla Tigers will be looking to continue their solid form and pose a challenge to the big teams in the upcoming ICC events.
