Chittagong: Bangladesh recorded its first ever series victory over South Africa on Wednesday after securing a comfortable nine-wicket win by the Duckworth/Lewis method in their third and deciding one-day international.
Openers Soumya Sarkar and Tamim Iqbal combined for a 154-run opening partnership as Bangladesh wrapped up victory by reaching its target of 170 in just 26.1 overs losing only one wicket after South African managed 168-9. The hosts won the three-match series 2-1.
The target was set by the Duckworth/Lewis method after torrential rain interrupted the match for more than three hours and reduced it to 40 overs each.
It was South Africa's second biggest ODI defeat in its history, having previously lost by 10 wickets to the West Indies and England.
Bangladesh was rewarded for an impressive rally in the series, following an eight-wicket defeat in the opener.
"After losing the first match, it was difficult to come back in the second," Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza said. "The boys played brilliantly in the third match. The way Soumya was batting was nice to see."
Soumya smashed 90 off 75, clobbering 13 fours and one six. Iqbal was unbeaten on 61, his 31st half-century. His 77-ball knock was designed by seven fours.
Their aggression on a pitch where the Proteas batsmen had struggled to score proved decisive. South Africa also put in an uncharacteristically poor fielding performance, with Farhan Behardien putting down Soumya when the batsman was on 71.
"We misjudged the conditions, but credit to Bangladesh," South Africa captain Hashim Amla said. "We were rusty and haven't played good cricket. We have got a good idea of what the wickets would be."
But looking ahead, he added: "Test cricket is a different ball game. We will regroup and come back in the tests. The test guys have flown in."
The platform for Wednesday's victory was set up by bowlers who again contained South Africa's batting lineup to a score below 170.
Left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan led with 3-33, while fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman took 2-24.
Shakib became the second Bangladeshi bowler to reach the landmark of 200 ODI wickets, after fellow left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak.
He also became the seventh player and quickest to the double of 4,000 runs and 200 wickets in 156 ODIs, eclipsing Pakistan's Abdul Razzaq, who needed 204 matches.
JP Duminy was the high-scorer for South Africa with 51. David Miller made 44.
On a slower pitch, the South Africans again found it tough to deal with the Bangladeshi bowlers, who were pumped up, fresh from their first win against them since 2007.
Rahman made the breakthrough by removing Quinton de Kock (7) a second straight time.
Shakib dealt a double blow, dismissing Faf Du Plessis (6), and Amla (15) for his 199th and 200th ODI wickets. He also had one wicket for an Asia XI.
It worsened for the visitors when Mahmudullah forced Rilee Rossouw (17) to offer a catch in the slips, at 50-4.
The rain provided relief, and Duminy and David Miller resumed and rebuilt.
They combined for 63 runs to raise the prospect of a considerable total, but it was shattered by Mortaza, who took out Miller for 44, and slowed down the run rate. Miller smashed five fours in 51 balls.
In the last five overs, South Africa managed just 19 runs for four wickets. Duminy was last out on the last ball, for 51 off 70 balls, including three fours.
