Bangladesh welcomed a fourth ODI victory over South Africa in Sunday’s World Cup fixture at The Oval in London. Remember their other three.
Bangladesh lost seven consecutive ODIs to South Africa before welcoming a maiden victory during the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean. The Proteas went into the fixture without a specialist spin – and bowled first after winning the toss. Fast bowler Andre Nel gathered a five-wicket haul on either side of batsman Mohammad Ashraful’s 87. Part-time spinner Graeme Smith and opening bowler Makhaya Ntini proved ineffective in a final total of 251 for eight.
South Africa’s reply slipped to 87 for six, as Bangladesh deployed three frontline spinners on a conducive Providence Stadium pitch. Unbeaten half-centurion Herschelle Gibbs tried to deny the near inevitable, but lacked support in a historic 67-run defeat. Fast bowler Mashrafe Mortaza, all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, opening batsman Tamim Iqbal and wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim played in 2007’s match – and were in the XI for Sunday’s victory, too.
Bangladesh weathered another seven successive ODI losses to South Africa before a second victory arrived. The Proteas’ decision to bat first backfired. No visiting batsman scored more than the right-handed Faf du Plessis’ 41, as fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman and spinner Nasir Hossain shared six key wickets.
Bangladesh’s response with the bat was prompt and professional – and ensured victory with all of 134 deliveries to spare. Opener Soumya Sarkar and middle-order batsman Mohammad Mahmudullah, who were also prevalent in Sunday’s win, struck convincing centuries against a Proteas attack that failed to successfully navigate trying conditions and inspired opposition.
Three days later, Bangladesh raced to series victory on the back of another sterling performance from Sarkar and Tamim. Batsman JP Duminy’s half-century and a complementary cameo from fellow left-hander David Miller saved South Africa from a sub-120 total, but 168 for nine ultimately wasn’t enough. Sarkar and Iqbal, then, dominated the South African bowlers, who lacked a genuine sixth option to truly trouble the hosts.
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