Bangladesh comprehensively beat South Africa by seven wickets in the second ODI on Sunday to level the series at 1-1 with a game to play. Kobus Pretorius reports.
Bangladesh chased down South Africa’s total of 162 comfortably as they found batting under the lights easier than it was earlier in the day, making it a good toss to lose.
It’s only the second time Bangladesh have managed to beat South Africa in a one-day match, a victory which also secured their participation in the 2017 Champions Trophy.
The hosts were on top from the start, pushing South Africa on to the back foot with some accurate bowling on a pitch that wasn’t easy to bat on.
After winning the toss and batting, the Proteas struggled to get going. The batting order found it tough to time the ball well and stroke play was difficult.
The shot selection wasn’t much better and at 59-3 the visitors had a problem. Faf du Plessis was once again a lonely figure at the top of the order, top scoring with 41.
Quinton de Kock (2), Rilee Rossouw (4) and David Miller (9) all fell before Farhaan Behardien (36), desperate for a good showing with the bat, combined with the tail-enders to give the score a semblance of respectability.
De Kock was undone by some extra bounce which led to a leading edge, while Amla (22) missed a straight one which uprooted his off-stump. Rossouw never looked comfortable against the spinners as he needed 24 deliveries for his four runs.
Du Plessis tried to keep the innings together, but he was caught trying to go big as he mistimed the hit. It became clear that the middle order would be severely tested in this game and a lot depended on JP Duminy and Behardien.
Behardien successfully referred a lbw decision against him to keep on fighting, but Duminy once again failed when South Africa needed him most.
He mistimed a cover drive into the air and straight to extra-cover for another soft dismissal, managing only 13 runs in the process.
South Africa were reeling on 100-6, but Behardien tried his best and batted well with the tail to get to 162 – the Proteas’ lowest ever ODI total against Bangladesh.
Du Plessis and his men came out fighting in the second innings as Kagiso Rabada again provided the breakthrough early on.
Tamim Iqbal was bowled while trying to be too attacking early on before Rabada struck again, bowling Liton Das who missed a straight one.
Bangladesh soon settled and started to look comfortable as they cruised to victory. Soumya Sarkar top scored with a well played 88 not out.
In the end, 162 just wasn’t enough to defend.
For the scorecard, click here.
Picture: AFP
