Sabbir Hossain :Shabash Tigers, the roaring Tigers clinched the ODI series 2-1 after thrashing the touring South Africa by nine wickets in the third and final ODI at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Wednesday.Earlier, Bangladesh composed a resounding seven-wicket victory over their African counterpart in the second ODI to level the series 1-1 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on July 12.South Africa beat Bangladesh by eight wickets in the first ODI at the same venue on July 10.Electing to bat first, South Africa scored a modest 168 for the loss of nine wickets in 40 overs (The match was reduced to 40-over-a-side due to rain).Needing 170 runs (The target was set to win according to Duckworth/ Lewis Method) to win, Bangladesh romped home making 170 for the loss of one wicket when they had 83 balls to spare.Openers Soumya Sarkar and Tamim Iqbal led his team from the frontline contributing together 154 in the opening stand before Soumya Sarkar was caught by Hasim Amla off Imran Tahir.Soumya Sarkar was the victim of nervous ninety’s. Soumya cracked a splendid 90. His 75-ball innings was ornamented with 13 fours and a sixer. It was Sarkar’s 4th ODI half century. Soumya Sarkar was adjudged the Man of the Match for his match-winning innings.Tamim Iqbal remained undefeated with 61. His 77-ball innings was laced with seven fours. It was Tamim Iqbal’s 31st ODI half century. After departure of Sarkar, Tamim and Liton Das sealed the series victory. Liton remained unbeaten with five runs.After the outstanding victory, Captain of Bangladesh ODI Cricket team Mashrafe Bin Mortaza said, ” This victory came due to our confidence.”Spinner Shakib Al Hasan, new sensation pacer Mustafizur Rahman and pacer Rubel Hossain played the key role to restrict South Africa to a modest total. Shakib Al Hasan is now the seventh cricketer of the world who scored 4000 runs and bagged 200 wickets in ODI cricket.Shakib Al Hasan grabbed three wickets at the cost of 33 runs while Mustafizur Rahman and Rubel Hossain bagged a pair of wickets each instead of 24 and 29 runs respectively.Opener Quinton de Kock (7) was cleanly bowled out by new sensation Mustafizur Rahman.One-down Faf du Plessis (6) was caught by Mushfiqur Rahim off Shakib al Hasan when South Africa’s score was 19 for the loss of two wickets.Skipper Hashim Amla (15) was caught behind by wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim off Shakib Al Hasan when the visitors’ total was 45 for the loss of three wickets. Then Rilee Rossouw (17) was caught behind by wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim off Mahmudullah Riyad when the Proteas’ score was 50 for the loss of four wickets.When South Africa’s score was 78 for the loss of four wickets in 23 overs, it started to rain.Later, the rain stopped and the match was reduced to 40-over-a-side.David Miller and JP Duminy built the notable partnership for the tourists. They added 63 runs in the fifth wicket partnership before David Miller was caught at the back ward point by Sabbir Rahman off Mashrafe Bin Mortaza when the tourists’ total was 113 for the loss of five wickets. It was Mashrafe Bin Mortaza’s 200th ODI wicket.JP Duminy knocked a respectable 51 off 70 balls with three shots across the ropes. It was Duminy’s 21st ODI half century.Miller hit a polished 44 from 51 balls including five fours.Then Farhaan Behardien (12) was caught at the long-on by Sabbir Rahman off Shakib Al Hasan when the African’s score was 149 for the loss six wickets.Number-Eight batsman Kagiso Rabada (1) was bowled out by Mustafizur Rahman when South Africa’s total was 155 for the loss of seven wickets.Kyle Abbott (5) was bowled out by Rubel Hossain when the tourists’ total was 167 for the loss of eight wickets.Number-Six batsman JP Duminy was caught at the point by Liton Das off Rubel Hossain when Proteas’ innings came to an end.
