South Africa’s debutants impressed as the Proteas crushed Bangladesh by 200 runs in the third ODI at Buffalo Park.
It was a ruthless performance by South Africa, who outclassed Bangladesh in every department. A dominant bowling performance followed an exquisite batting display.
The Proteas were on the front foot from the get-go when Faf du Plessis won the toss and elected to bat. Despite a rearranged top six, the Proteas put on a masterclass performance.
Quinton de Kock set the tone early alongside Temba Bavuma as the pair set the platform with a 119-run partnership in 105 balls. After the dismissal of both openers, the launchpad was set by Du Plessis and debutant Aiden Markram. The pair struck a 151-run partnership before the captain was piggybacked off the field and retired hurt with SA’s top score of 91. Markram went on to 66 off 60 balls.
The East London crowd expressed their excitement for a potential AB de Villiers onslaught, but it was Rabada who took advantage of the platform set, smashing an 11-ball 23 to help propel SA to their winning total of 369-6.
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Dane Paterson got the ball rolling for the hosts, picking up a wicket in his first two overs, claiming the scalps of Imrul Kayes and Liton Das as Bangladesh were rattled at 15-2.
Kagiso Rabada was next to strike. Soumya Sarkar’s attempted drive found a nick to Markram, who showed fantastic reflexes to take a head-high catch to his left.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah completed a top-five collapse for 66 runs as all-rounders Andile Phehlulwayo and debutant Wiaan Mulder struck in the 12th and 15th over respectively.
Shakib Al Hasan led a Bangladeshi resistance by reaching his 35th ODI half-century. He was well-supported by Sabbir Rahman as the pair brought up Bangladesh’s 100.
Shakib’s hard work was undone by Markram’s off-break bowling when he tried to pick out a boundary, but instead found the safe hands of JP Duminy. Markram struck again just five balls later, finding Sabbir’s edge as the Tigers were reduced to 135-7 in 31 overs.
Wickets continued to tumble as the Tigers withered – Paterson got his third before Imran Tahir wrapped up the tail with a double, Bangladesh all out for 169.
Whitewash complete, as South Africa’s 3-0 series win helped them creep above India on the ICC rankings, setting up an interesting battle between the top two ODI sides when they meet in February.
SA 369-6 (50 overs) – Faf du Plessis 91, Quinton de Kock 73, Aiden Markram 66, Mehedi Hasan 2-59.
Bangladesh 169 (40.3 overs) – Shakib Al Hassan 63, Sabbir Rahman 39, Dane Paterson 3-44, Aiden Markram 2-18.
South Africa win by 200 runs.
Photo: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images
