South Africa VS Bangladesh ODI Series
2nd Match Played at Wanderers, Johannesburg of 20 March 2022
South Africa 195/3 in 37.2 Overs (Quinton de cock 62, Verrynne 58* , Afif 1/15)
Bangladesh 194/9 (Afif Hossain 72, Mehedy Miraj 38, Kagiso Rabada 5/39)
Gifted with the opportunity of first using the pacey wicket of uneven bounce South African pacers Rabada, Ngidi rocked, shocked and awed insipid Bangladesh top order batters. The flawed technique of Bangladesh batsmen encountering quality pace attack on a difficult wicket led tourists into total submission. South Africa overhauled Bangladesh below par score of 194/9 cruising over and across in 37.2 overs. The euphoria of historic first win in South Africa still not died when they witnessed the other side of the moon. On such a wicket Bangladesh could have possibly done better if they would have chosen to field after winning the toss. Even the simple Bangladesh loving admirers coming to support understood prototype decision of Tamim of choosing to bat.
The world cricket knows well about the chronic incompetence of Bangladesh against fast bowling on bouncy wicket. Rabada (5/39) craftily exploited the favorable condition. Tamim, Shakib, Litton, Mushfique and Yasir were blown away like Tsunami striking.
Bangladesh was knocked down on the floor at 34/5 in 13.2 overs. Riding on Afif (72) and Riad Bangladesh desperately endeavored to recover. When Riad was gone, it was again Afif and Miraj produced yet another face saving 7th wicket partnership . Even then 194/9 was at least 30 runs short to compete South Africa.
Bangladesh top order looked helpless against steep bounce of Rabada and Ngidi. Tamim, Shakib. Litton, Mushfique and Yasir had no answer to the brilliant bowling of South African pacers. When half of the batting returns to dug out within 13.2 overs for very little on board the team cannot expect to win. We do not think other than Litton getting a very difficult ball the other four had no clues. In such a back to the wall Afif and Mahmudullah first tried resurrecting. Mahmudullah could not last long.
Flamboyant Afif countered attacked and steady Miraj stayed with him long enough to take Bangladesh close to 200. Time has come to promote Afif and even Miraj. We are not sure Mushfique and Mahmudullah deserve at their respective positions. After a very ordinary first match Rabada bounced back taking 5 wicket for39 runs. The injury that Parnell sustained paved the way of Bangladesh fighting back.
Chasing 195 on a wicket usually helping teams batting second was made easier by Bangladesh bowling. The return of flamboyant Quinton de cock also assisted. Taskin, Mustafiz and Shoriful could not exploit the pace friendly condition at all. Mehedy (1/41) and Taskin (0/51) was targeted in a planned manner. South Africa cakewalked to overhaul the target in 37.2 Overs. The series is now locked at 1-1 and would be keyed opened at Super sports Park at Centurion. There is concern for Shakib staying on the tour as his next of kins (mother and daughters) are in hospital now.
The body language of Bangladesh was not at all positive when they tried to defend the target what they set. From what Tamim, Shakib and Yasir told after first match spoke of something wrong in team chemistry. Bangladesh managing first win South Africa in 20 years seemed to have won the world.
Hope Bangladesh would better read the condition in decision making after toss and choosing horses for the courses. There is nothing necessary staying with winning condition. Mahmudul Has Joy could suit better on such a wicket than Yasir.
BDST: 0916 HRS, MAR 21, 2022
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