Soumya Sarkar struck a wonderful 90 as Bangladesh secured a historic series victory as the cruised to a nine-wicket win on the Duckworth/Lewis method over South Africa in the third one-day international at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Wednesday.
South Africa posted 168-9 off 40 overs after their innings had been interrupted by a three-hour rain delay.
But Bangladesh had no trouble in chasing down the revised total of 170 as they reached 170-1 off just 26.1 overs as they completed a 2-1 series victory, their first series win over South Africa.
Sarkar was in fine form as he weighed in with 90 off just 75 balls with 13 fours and a six while Tamim Iqbal scored 61 not out off 77 deliveries with the pair putting on 154 for the first wicket.
The ODI series victory was Bangladesh’s fourth in a row after they beat Zimbabwe, Pakistan and India before the South Africa series.
Rain had caused a long rain delay during South Africa’s innings meaning that the match was reduced to 40-overs-per-side but only JP Duminy, with 51 off 70 balls, and David Miller, with an entertaining 44 off 51 deliveries, made much of an impression with the bat for the visitors.
Left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan ended with 3-33 while 19-year-old paceman Mustafizur Rahman ended with the excellent figures of 2-24 off eight overs. Fast bowler Rubel Hossain picked up 2-29.
South Africa, after winning the toss and electing to bat on a low, slow wicket were soon in trouble as the crashed to 19-2.
Quinton de Kock’s (7) poor run of form continued as he was bowled by Mustafizur before Faf du Plessis (6) was caught by keeper Mushfiqur Rahim after top edging a delivery from Shakib.
Hashim Amla and Rilee Rossouw (17) took the score to 45 before Amla became Shakib’s 200th ODI wicket when the batsman was caught behind before Rossouw was also caught by keeper Mushfiqur, off the bowling of part-time offspinner Mahmudallah.
Miller and Duminy then combined for a dogged fifth-wicket stand that produced 28 runs as SA reached 78-4 after 23 overs before heavy rain resulted in the long break in play.
When play resumed Miller and Duminy looked in good touch as they pushed their stand to 63 off 14.5 overs.
But Miller was superbly caught at backward point off the bowling of seamer Mashrafe Mortaza as Bangladesh fought back.
Farhaan Behardien (12), Kagiso Rabada (1) and Kyle Abbott (5) were all dismissed before Duminy was dismissed by Rubel off the last ball of the innings.
