South Africa v Bangladesh, 2nd ODI: 5 Talking Points

It is too much to ask of your bowlers to do something special when someone like AB de Villiers decide to play one of his best innings. Bangladesh never looked like they were in the game when he got going and as a result, a mammoth target of 353 was inevitable as matters got worse for Bangladesh. While Hashim Amla was playing a knock defining his usual classy self, de Villiers stole the limelight.

A proper batting performance was backed by good bowling from the hosts and things that’s where Bangladesh’s 104-run-defeat was foreseen.The hosts now have an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the 3-match ODI series while the visitors will be playing their next game for glory.

Here are 5 talking points of the 2nd ODI

1. Amla and Quinton give head start

Like the 1st ODI, the South African openers laid the foundation in today’s match in their bid to post a good target. This time the duo were involved in setting up an opening stand of 90 runs inside 18 overs. Though Shakib Al Hasan broke the partnership in the very next over, as he sent Quinton de Kock back to pavilion after he scored 46 runs, they got the desirable start.

Hashim Amla continued his good form after the first match by playing the anchor’s role in most part of the match today. Though he fell short of his 27th ODI century by 14 runs, the damage had been done and he successfully put the Proteas in a comfortable position.

2. Faf goes for a duck

While the openers had done well to put South Africa in the driver’s seat, skipper Faf du Plessis was dismissed for a duck. It was Shakib Al Hasan’s second strike that caused du Plessis’ 3-ball duck. It was possible that Bangladesh would have started to think they could still get in the game, but they had to face the wrath of AB de Villiers and a well-set Hashim Amla.

3. AB de Villiers returns with a bang

It is safe to say that ABD pulled an ABD on Bangladesh. In what was his comeback match, de Villiers brought up his career best ODI score of 176 off 104 balls. AB de Villiers remained the aggressor, rather the innovator that he is, throughout the match while Amla played the anchor’s role initially. He later combined with JP Duminy to continue with his attacking performance in order to help the Proteas cause.

He brought up his century in 68 balls and was looking set to score a double century, but Rubel Hossain persisted and inflicted the breakthrough in the 48th over albeit after the ship had sailed.

4. Mushfiqur Rahim and Imrul Kayes’ efforts in vain

The thing about Bangladesh is that they rarely give up. One or two players always step up to hold a fight. This time too, Mushfiqur and Kayes combined in an attempt to hold fort as they built a 93-run-partnership. While Kayes contributed 68 runs in the partnership, Mushfiqur scored a 60.

Kayes’ was the victim of Imran Tahir’s change of pace delivery that forced him to play a shot straight into the hands of de Villiers. Rahim fell to Dwaine Pretorius’ slower delivery straight to Duminy. The fightback was commendable but it was never going to be enough.

5. Phehlukwayo and Tahir dent Bangladesh chase

Bangladesh may have stepped on to bat with positive intent despite the psychological disadvantage of a colossal target, and they may have found a shot in the arm had their opening partnership reaped success. However, South African bowlers made it a complete win for their team with good bowling but Tahir and Phehlukwayo stood out.

Mushfiqur and Kayes’ were the only batsmen who managed to cross fifty runs and the rest of the batting order apart from Mahmudullah succumbed easily. With the pressure of early wickets building, Andile Phehlukwayo and Imran Tahir decided to use the opportunity to add salt to Bangladesh’s wounds. While Tahir registered figures of 3/50, Phehlukwayo impressed with 4/40.