South Africa will host Bangladesh for the third ODI at Centurion Park in Gauteng on Wednesday 23 March. This match has become a decider between after South Africa hit back from the shock of losing the opening match, their first defeat on home soil against Bangladesh in all forms of cricket stretching back 20 years.
At the Wanderers, South Africa had tinkered with their line-up. One of the men recalled, Quinton de Kock, played a key role with the bat, making 62 off just 41 balls with two sixes, getting the South African run chase off to a strong start.
And Kagiso Rabada, who had been out of sorts in the first match, returned to his old self with taking 5-39. He got key wickets in the opening overs and returned to dismiss both Afif Hossain and Mehidy Hasan when they were looking to build a decent total after Bangladesh had been put into bat.
Thanks to Rabada and his fellow bowlers, South Africa restricted Bangladesh to 194/9 to set up a relatively easy run chase. South Africa got there with seven wickets and more than 12 overs in hand.
The result was a boost to their hopes of automatically qualifying for the 2023 World Cup, but they will want to win again on Wednesday, knowing they have much tougher opponents to face in the next 12 months.
It was a quick return to earth for Bangladesh after the euphoria of the first ODI, and, whilst not unexpected, they will be looking for an improved performance with both bat and ball in the third ODI.
Fantasy Tips
- Both sides to name unchanged teams;
- Bangladesh are likely to struggle against pace. Pick Rabada and other South African fast bowlers.
- De Kock to make another important knock for his side.
Likely teams
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Janneman Malan, Temba Bavuma (c), Kyle Verreynne, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi.
Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal (c), Liton Das (wk), Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Yasir Ali, Mahmudullah, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman.