Soumya Sarkar hit an unbeaten 88 as Bangladesh levelled the one-day series against South Africa at 1-1 with an emphatic seven-wicket victory at Mirpur.
Soumya Sarkar is awarded Man of the Match for this unbeaten 88 off 79 in the 2nd ODI against @OfficialCSA. #BANvSA pic.twitter.com/oraVUhIWcn
The Tigers would have fancied their chances having bowled the tourists out for 162 in 46 overs but lost two quick wickets as they chased just a second win against South Africa in 28 attempts.
But Soumya and Mahmudullah (50) put on 135 for the third wicket to secure victory with 134 balls to spare and ensure the series is alive heading to Chittagong.
The result also meant that Bangladesh are guaranteed a place in the Champions Trophy in 2017.
Hashim Amla decided to bat but Quinton de Kock fell for just two as Mustafizur Rahman found some extra bounce and the shoulder of the bat with the opener popping the ball up to Sabbir Rahman.
Amla was next to go for 22 as he was bowled by Rubel Hossain and Rilee Rossouw (four) also saw his off-stump pegged back but by the spin of Nasir Hossain.
The steady flow of wickets meant the Proteas were struggling to score at any sort of rate and shortly after David Miller chipped Mahmudullah to Mashrafe Mortaza for nine, South Africa were 80 for four at the halfway stage.
Faf du Plessis’ 41 had been the only contribution of note and the alarm bells were ringing when he miscued Nasir to Soumya to leave the tourists 93 for five.
Farhaan Behardien was saved by an lbw review but he lost JP Duminy soon after for 13, the all-rounder finding Sabbir off Mustafizur, and Chris Morris (12) was trapped in front by Rubel.
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Mustafizur then bowled Kagiso Rabada for 10 and while Behardien clobbered the innings’ only six, the rate was still pedestrian and Kyle Abbott went for five, lbw to Nasir.
Behardien had taken on Du Plessis’ mantle of holding things together but when he was last out for 36 off 44 balls, caught by Nasir off Mashrafe, South Africa had their lowest total against the Tigers.
The early hope of victory was soon shaken, however, as Bangladesh lost two wickets inside four overs. Tamim Iqbal was first to go for five and it was that man Rabada, who had taken six wickets including a hat-trick on ODI debut in the first game, who struck, forcing the opener to drag on.
Bangladesh stun South Africa in spectacular fashion and win the 2nd ODI by 7 wickets: http://t.co/7ZMO9eLaja #BanvSA pic.twitter.com/JHTdnDPM7W
— ICC (@ICC) July 12, 2015
Litton Das then went for a quickfire 17 off 14 balls, Rabada peppering him with a short one and then following it with a beauty that knocked over off stump.
That may have prompted some early panic in the home ranks but any danger was soon seen off as Mahmudullah joined Soumya at the crease and the duo went to work, getting settled and then playing with more freedom as the partnership grew.
The fifty for the pair came up off 56 balls and Soumya reached the personal landmark off just 47 with nine fours.
Mahmudullah joined him with a half-century off 63 balls but then exited to the next delivery, lobbing the ball to Amla off an Abbott delivery. Bangladesh were just four short of their target, though, and Soumya sealed a comprehensive victory with a six off Imran Tahir.
