South Africa vs Bangladesh ODI 3: Bangla Tigers roared on African deserts

The visitors showed a clinical performance to win it in mere 26.3 overs with nine wickets remaining. Ecstatic Bangladesh fans couldn't resist celebrating at SuperSport Park, Centurion.

The collapse of South African batsman as Taskin strikes 5

South Africa failed to dig advantage of winning the toss in the series decider. Opener Janneman Malan provided a slow and steady start for Proteas. But he lacked support from the other end as Quinton de Kock got dismissed early for 12 runs. Bangladesh bowler Tasksin Ahmed bowled a magnificent spell as he went on to take a five-wicket haul in his spell of nine overs, conceding runs at an economy of 3.88 runs. A late rearguard action from Keshav Maharaj pushed South Africa over 150; however, the bowlers skittled out the hosts for merely 154 runs in 50 overs. This was South Africa's lowest total ever against Bangladesh.

Captain Tamim Iqbal wins it for Bangladesh.

Bangladesh openers got on the crease with gun-blazing shots to chase down the total. The opener-captain Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das stitched a classic partnership of 127 runs in 125 balls. They went to hit 22 boundaries in their innings. While Tamim Iqbal notched up his 52nd One Day International fifty, Liton Das fell short by two runs to reach his fifty as Keshav Maharaj struck him. Shakib Al Hasan came at number 3, supporting the skipper to end the match dominantly. And in just 26.3 overs, Bangladesh chased down the total with the help of confident innings by the captain. 

Taskin Ahmed, both the Player of the Match and the Player of the Series, said, "Feeling happy and proud. This is my first time [getting] the Player of the Series [award]. I have been following the same process for the last one-and-a-half and two years. My captain always supports me in every match and gives me a clear role: to be fast and aggressive and take wickets. I enjoyed it a lot [here], and from when we have arrived, I have been working on my length. Just basics. I still have to learn how to get five wickets on a flat wicket."

Will Proteas be able to make it for ODI series loss in the upcoming Test series?

A sweet and well-deserved series win for Bangladesh. The visitors brought the best game forward to take the series and win a home in a 3-match ODI series. In the absence of its key bowlers, South Africa looked weak and depleted in the absence of its key bowlers Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen. The two-match Test series between Bangladesh and South Africa will begin from 31st March 2022. However, it will  be played by Proteas without their main bowling attack as many key players have left for India to participate in the Indian Premier League starting from 26th March 2022. It will be interesting to see if Bangladesh can make the most of this situation to win the Test series or South Africa will bounce back stronger for Test matches.