BAN vs SA 2nd Match, RSA v BAN 2022

Suhail: Bangladesh came into this game with a lot of confidence winning the first match of the series by 38 runs. But, the hosts were in a different mood today and their pacers bowled with a plan, bowling short of length balls on a pitch that gave them a lot of assistance early on. Bangladesh lost Tamim, Shakib, Rahim, Liton and Yasir very early in their innings and were reduced to 45/5 in 14 overs with Rabada being the chief anchor, equally supported by Lungi. Even though Yasir got a life after a catch was dropped in the first slip by Malan, he could not capitalize and fell early. Bangladesh got a breather when the spinners came into the attack and Bavuma replaced Parnell who had to go off the field due to an injury. Afif tried to counter-attack scoring quickly and picking the boundaries on offer and Mahmudullah played the anchor role. But, Bavuma did not let the pressure off and chipped in with some disciplined bowling. Both the batters tried to build the innings, rotating the strike and picking the odd boundaries in between.

Shamsi got the wicket of well-set Mahmudullah and broke the half-century partnership pushing Bangladesh back again. Afif continued to bat attackingly and got a life when Maharaj dropped him on 36 of his own bowling. Mehidy supported Afif well from the other end and kept rotating the strike trying to build another partnership with Afif who ensured that the scoreboard kept on moving. South African spinners bowled well in tandem especially Shamsi who gave only 26 runs in his 10 overs and picked up the wicket of Mahmudullah. Afif got to his well-deserved fifty in the 37^th over and looked in control against both pacers and spinners. Mehidy also got a chance after he was dropped off the bowling of Bavuma by Malan in the 41^st over.

Both Afif and Mehidy got chances due to some sloppy fielding by South Africa and brought up the highest seventh-wicket partnership for Bangladesh and a much-needed one considering the situation of the game. Rabada took the important wicket of Afif at 72 and broke another half-century stand. Rabada picked up his well-deserved 5 wicket haul by picking the wicket of Mehidy and ensured that Bangladesh could only reach 194 at the loss of 9 wickets after 50 overs and could only score 48 runs in the last 10 overs.

At halfway stage, South Africa looked favourites with just 194 on the board, and they started off in style with De Kock taking the bowlers to the cleaners and hitting shots all over the ground to bring up his fifty in the first 10 overs and Malan also played the perfect partner to him watching from the other end while De Kock did the damage. De Kock was dropped on 52 by Rahim off the bowling of Mehidy and he looked in no mood to spare any of the Bangladeshi bowlers who kept bowling short and wide and De Kock was happy to take the gifts on offer.

Mehidy picked up the first South African wicket with Malan getting bowled on 26. Shakib dismissed the dangerous De Kock on 62 to ensure that Bangladesh made some sort of a comeback into the game. But, Bavuma and Verreynne kept on scoring at a brisk pace and kept picking boundaries and sixes at will and ensured that Bangladesh do not come back in the game. The Bangladeshi bowlers looked clueless after De Kock’s onslaught at the beginning of the innings and they never looked threatening. Afif dismissed Bavuma on 37 after a 82 run stand but by that time it was too late and South Africa had already done the bulk of the scoring in the chase. Verreynne scored a fifty and remained unbeaten to secure a 7 wicket win for South Africa as Van der Dussen finished off in style with a boundary to bring up the target in the 38^th over. 

Suhail: South Africa have beaten Bangladesh by 7 wickets and have chased 195 in 37.2 overs  to level the 3match series 1-1.