AB de Villiers is over the moon after bringing up his hundred
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
AB de Villiers put on a show in Paarl as he clubbed a career-best 176 to not only lead South Africa to a 104-run win over Bangladesh, but also hand them an unassailable 2-0 series lead.
De Villiers’ knock was the fourth-highest by a South African player in ODI history and he also became just the seventh batsman to score 25 ODI centuries.
The Proteas came into the match on a high as they demolished Bangladesh by 10 wickets in the first game in Kimberley.
Being put in to bat first, South Africa got off to an excellent start as Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock amassed a 90-run partnership before De Kock was trapped lbw off the bowling of Shakib Al Hasan for 46.
Even though captain Faf du Plessis fell three balls later, the Proteas didn’t panic as Amla and De Villiers came to the rescue with a 136-run partnership, during which both batsmen cruised past their half-centuries.
Hashim Amla scored his 34th ODI fifty
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With the Proteas firmly in control, Bangladesh were in desperate need of a wicket. In the end, it was Rubel Hossain who provided the breakthrough as he had Amla caught behind for 85, which came off 92 balls and included four boundaries.
De Villiers took over from that point and dominated the 117-run stand he put together with JP Duminy.
The 33-year-old surged past his hundred and the 150-run mark before his time at the crease came to an end when he was caught by Sabbir Rahman at deep midwicket off the bowling of Rubel.
De Villiers’ incredible innings of 176 came off 104 deliveries and included 15 boundaries and seven sixes.
With the sixes he hit, De Villiers became just the sixth player in history to hit 200 sixes in ODIs.
Duminy, meanwhile, went on to make 30 as South Africa finished on 353/6 off their 50 overs.
Rubel was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Shakib snapped up two.
Chasing 354 to win, Bangladesh made a solid start to their innings before opener Tamim Iqbal, who was returning from a thigh injury, was given out lbw off the bowling of Dwaine Pretorius for 23.
Liton Das only made 14 before he was on his way back to the pavilion, but Imrul Kayes and wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim steadied the ship with a 93-run partnership, during which both batsmen brought up their fifties.
Imrul Kayes struck his 14th half-century in ODI cricket
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Kayes ended up making 68 off 77 balls, which included six boundaries and a six, before he was caught by De Villiers at extra cover off the bowling of Imran Tahir.
Shakib only mustered five runs, while Rahim made 60 off 70 deliveries, which included four boundaries and a six, before he was dismissed by Pretorius.
Mushfiqur Rahim made his 27th ODI fifty
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Once Rahim was out, Andile Phehlukwayo ripped through Bangladesh’s lower order, which led to the tourists being bowled out for 249.
Phehlukwayo was the most successful bowler with four wickets, while Tahir took three, Pretorius got two and Dane Paterson claimed one.
Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza was less than impressed with his side’s performance, and said: “AB came and took the game away from us. This could have been 310-320. We started well but Tahir’s wickets put us under a lot of pressure. We all know AB is a destroyer and today he played one of his best innings.
“When he’s in that sort of form, you have to be 100% perfect. He’ll punish you otherwise and that’s what happened. The luck didn’t go our way too a couple of times. Our biggest problem is individuals are standing up but we’re not performing collectively.”
Du Plessis was thrilled to have won the series, and said: “Very good performance again. AB special today. I thought we were very good with the ball on a very good wicket. As I said on the toss, it might be a slow surface. Our openers assessed it well and that’s what set us up. The switch there in the middle was very good. Perhaps we could have got 5-10 runs more.
“(Laughing about his dismissal) Hash said there was no turn so I took that on and got the only one that spun all day. We are definitely going to look at giving guys opportunities in the next game – not only guys in the squad but outside as well.”
De Villiers was named Man of the Match, and said: “I enjoyed it a lot. It’s a great privilege and honour to play for the country and this was the cherry on top after the hard work I’ve done in the last few months. Hash gave me plenty of confidence and was the perfect person for me to be with.
“I had one of my best nets in Kimberley and felt really good. The 200 crossed my mind but I never think about things like that, it was only about how many balls I face at the end and get as much as possible for the team.”