Soumya Sarkar guides host for a record series win against South Africa- Bangladesh v South Africa 3rd ODI Match Review

Soumya Sarkar guides host for a record series win against South Africa- Bangladesh v South Africa 3^rd ODI Match Review: It started off with neighbors Pakistan to the other Asian counterparts India and now it was South Africa’s turn. The Bangladesh Cricket team continues to dominate top team’s post 2015 World Cup with a brilliant 2-1 victory over heavy-weights, Hashim Amla led South Africa.

Hosts Bangladesh beat Proteas in the third and final ODI by a margin of 9 wickets to complete a thrilling series win at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong. A historic series win for the home side with the likes of young and exciting players succeeded to make winning a habit.

After first two games both the teams were standing with one win each and looking at the form Bangladesh has shown in this season, no one could have thought of writing them off in the decider.

In another rain affected encounter, the home side geared up to restrict the visitors for 168-9 in their respective 40 overs. While solid openers Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar held their nerves to produce some brilliant quality of cricket to take their team to a historic series win.

Chasing 169, South Africa was outplayed in all facets of the game today. Soumya Sarkar (95) and Tamim Iqbal (61*) came out with intent. Early into the innings, they were playing the balls according to merit. They defended the good balls and dispatched the poor ones to the fence. Soon, both of them found their timing and kept thrashing the bowlers all over the park.

Soumya Sarkar was the destroyer-in-chief and kept smacking the visitors all around. Tamim gave him good support as well from the other end. Sarkar was looking set for another ton, but got out for 90 towards the end. Tamim, too reached his fifty, and made sure that he stayed there till the end to take his team through.

Sarkar’s brilliant inning was cut short by Tahir as the left hander hit it straight to Amla. Youngster Liton Das finishes off the game with a boundary of Imran Tahir. The Proteas bowlers didn’t turn up today and Bangladesh deserved the win, especially after restricting South Africa to a low total.

Soumya Sarkar who struck a fluent looking 90 off 75 balls was awarded with a much deserved Man of the Match award. The opener was also named the Player of the series with 205 runs in three games.

Earlier on the day, batting first South Africa started off poorly with the new pace sensation Mustafizar Rahman making early-in roads to remove Quinton de Kock’s timber in the third over. South Africa’s top order again struggled on the slow surface and strangling approach from Bangladesh’s bowlers, who collectively put in another disciplined performance. As wickets kept tangling at regular intervals with Faf du Plessis, Hashim Amla and Kyle Rossuow in the 15th over with score reeling score reeling at 50 for four.

Shakib Al Hasan and Masrafe Mortaza both reached 200 wickets in ODIs, and the combination of tight seam bowling and spin kept South Africa quiet for most part of their innings. JP Duminy and David Miller put on 63 runs for the fifth wicket and Duminy went on to a half-century, but there was little resistance from anyone else.

But the weather started playing spoil-sport again as two hours and 55 minutes were wasted for a rain delay which interrupted South Africa’s innings after 23 overs with the score on 83 for 4. Miller continued in his role as aggressor but eventually hit Mortaza in the air and Sabbir made up for his earlier fluff with a diving catch at backward point to give the captain his 200th scalp.

Farhaan Behardien showed signs of the fight he displayed in the second match, but holed out off Shakib as South Africa looked to up the ante. Rabada and Abbott were cleaned on early, while JP Duminy was the last man to be dismissed on the last ball of the 40th over.

Brief Scores:

South Africa- 168 for 9 in 40 overs (Duminy 51, DA Miller 44, Shakib-Al-Hasan 3-33) lost by 9 wickets.

Bangladesh- 170 for 1 in 26.1 overs (S Sarkar 90, Tamim Iqbal 61*, Tahir 1-37)