Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis may have been forced to retire hurt, but his superb knock of 91 led to his side demolishing Bangladesh by 200 runs in the third ODI in East London.

Du Plessis was well supported by opening batsman Quinton de Kock and debutant Aiden Markram as they smashed 73 and 66 respectively.

For Bangladesh, this was their joint third-biggest loss in ODI history. To make things even worse, they conceded 1,004 runs during the ODI series, which is the most runs they have given away in a three-match bilateral series.

Du Plessis would have been pleased with his decision to bat first as De Kock and Temba Bavuma, who came in after Hashim Amla had been rested for the match, amassed a 119-run partnership, during which De Kock brought up his fifty.

With the Proteas in cruise control, Bangladesh in desperate need of a wicket, but they had to wait until the 18th over to get it when Bavuma was dismissed by Mehidy Hasan Miraz for a 47-ball 48.

De Kock went on to make 73 off 68 balls, which included nine boundaries and a six, before he was caught and bowled by Mehidy.

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Du Plessis and Markram stabilised the innings with an unbeaten 151-run partnership, during which both batsmen sailed past their fifties, before Du Plessis was forced to retire hurt with, what seemed to be, a left hip injury.

Du Plessis left the field when he was on 91, which came off 67 balls and included 10 boundaries and a six.

Markram went on to make 66 off 60 deliveries, which included four boundaries and two sixes, before he was run out by Imrul Kayes.

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

AB de Villiers made a quickfire 20 before being removed by Rubel Hossain, while Willem Mulder only scored two runs before being trapped lbw off the bowling of Taskin Ahmed.

Taskin struck again five balls later as Andile Phehlukwayo was caught behind for five runs.

Despite losing a flurry of wickets, Farhaan Behardien and Kagiso Rabada gave South Africa a major spark towards the end of their innings as they put together an unbeaten 34-run partnership in three overs.

Behardien finished on 33 off 24 balls, which included four boundaries, while Rabada remained undefeated on 23 off 11 deliveries, which included three boundaries and a six.

Thanks to Behardien and Rabada’s fireworks, the Proteas finished on 369/6 off their 50 overs.

Mehidy and Taskin picked up two wickets apiece, while Rubel chipped in with one.

Chasing 370 to win, Bangladesh got off to an awful start as Kayes and Liton Das were both sent packing by Dane Paterson for one and six runs respectively.

Soumya Sarkar failed to have an impact either as he was caught by Markram at slip off the bowling of Rabada for eight runs.

Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah were unable to rescue Bangladesh as they were taken out by Phehlukwayo and Mulder for eight and two runs respectively.

Shakib Al Hasan and Sabbir Rahman provided some resistance as they accumulated a 67-run partnership, during which Shakib registered his half-century.

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

However, Shakib was unable to push on as he was caught by JP Duminy, who was the substitute fielder, at deep midwicket off the bowling of Markram for 63, which came off 82 balls and included eight boundaries.

Sabbir went on to make 39 before he was caught behind off the bowling of Markram.

Once he was gone, Bangladesh collapsed and were eventually bowled out for 169.

Paterson was the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Markram and Tahir took two wickets apiece. As for Rabada, Phehlukwayo and Mulder, they claimed one wicket each.

With the two wickets he picked up, Markram became just the fourth cricketer to score a half-century and take two wickets on debut in an ODI.

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza was disappointed with his side’s performance, and said: “All three matches, it was so difficult. It is something we can learn from, and still two T20s left. Hopefully, the boys will play with more passion. Bowling has been an issue, even we could not get a partnership going with the bat.

“This wicket was pretty good to bat on. Injuries to Tamim and Mustafizur are big blows but we can’t make any excuses. Sarkar is also struggling at the moment, and this is something we can learn from. T20s will be a fresh start for us.”

De Villiers, who spoke on behalf of Du Plessis, was delighted to have wrapped up the series 3-0, and said: “It was good fun, and it is easy to captain a team like this. It was a clinical series, especially today. Today was probably the best performance in my eyes, and this wicket suited them the best.

“We had a good opening stand, and Faf controlled it well. I was very impressed with the talent coming through. Very excited with Markram and Mulder. Temba opened the batting and did his job.”

Du Plessis was named Man of the Match.