Bangladesh need repeat of team effort to win South Africa series

Host captain Bavuma says, “Sunday is a must-win game for us. We have to up our game in all the departments”

Big picture

As well as they would be celebrating the landmark win in Centurion on Friday, Bangladesh will have their eyes on a bigger achievement on Sunday. Beating South Africa in South Africa for the first time was huge, but if they can do it again in Johannesburg, and in the process win the series, it will be a massive success.

Bangladesh produced a spectacular team effort. There were contributions right through the line-up – with Yasir Ali making a proper name for himself and Taskin Ahmed not too far behind. One more performance like that and this team will make even bigger history.

South Africa, meanwhile, have a lot to work on. Temba Bavuma couldn’t work out why his bowlers didn’t push home the advantage they had after 15 good overs first up. They also leaked a lot of wides and no-balls, and in the back end, some of them didn’t bowl quick enough.

The batters also have to find better ways to score runs. They were tied down by the Bangladesh seamers in the first Powerplay and in an effort to break free they lost too many wickets to the spinners. Rassie van der Dussen and David Miller batted well, but couldn’t finish the job. Bavuma himself struggled to rotate strike, while Aiden Markram lean patch continues to be a cause for concern.

Form guide

South Africa LWWWL (Last five completed matches; most recent first)
Bangladesh WLWWW

In the spotlight

David Miller landed punch after punch on the Bangladesh bowling attack towards the end of the first ODI, but an already out of control required run-rate and falling wickets at the other end meant his 79 off 57 went in vain. They had enough bases covered on Friday for Miller not to matter but Bangladesh will know it won’t always be the case. They’re going to need to find ways to stop the marauding left-hander.

Taskin Ahmed took 2 for 15 in his first spell in Centurion, before coming back to bowl two more tight spells, finishing with the big wicket of van der Dussen in his last over. He worried all the South African batters with his pace, movement and bounce. From looking almost clueless on his last tour to South Africa in 2017, Taskin is now a much improved, fitter fast bowler.

Team news

South Africa will consider bringing back Tabraiz Shamsi, especially if the Johannesburg pitch will provide a bit for the spinners.

South Africa (probable): 1 Kyle Verreynne (wk), 2 Janneman Malan, 3 Temba Bavuma (capt), 4 Aiden Markram, 5 Rassie van der Dussen, 6 David Miller, 7 Andile Phehlukwayo, 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Keshav Maharaj, 11 Lungi Ngidi

Bangladesh are unlikely to change the playing XI that’s brought them three wins in the last four games.

Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tamim Iqbal (capt), 2 Litton Das, 3 Shakib Al Hasan, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Yasir Ali, 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Afif Hossain, 8 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Shoriful Islam, 11 Mustafizur Rahman

Pitch and conditions

Four 350-plus scores for the sides batting first in the last seven day matches at the Wanderers should tell you what to expect on Sunday. Weather is set to be dry.

Stats and trivia

Tamim and Litton put on 95 runs in 21.3 overs on Friday, which is a new Bangladesh record for both runs scored (previous best 46) and overs batted (previous best 11.1) by their openers in South Africa.
Lungi Ngidi’s 1 for 75 in Centurion is now the worst bowling figures by a South African bowler against Bangladesh

Quotes

“Sunday is a must-win game for us. We have to up our game in all the departments. It will look after the points that we require. There’s no guaranteed points going into the game just because you are playing Bangladesh. We need to play the cricket that we know we can.”
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma, when asked about their position in the ODI Super League.

Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84

This article was originally published by Espncricinfo.com. Read the original article here.