Bangladesh vs South Africa, 2nd ODI preview and likely XIs: Visitors look to deny hosts series win

South Africa piled on more misery on Bangladesh as they thrashed them by 10 wickets in the first One-Day International (ODI) on Sunday. The Test series had already been a one-sided affair and now the ODI series too is looking to be moulded in the same way. The action moves to Boland Park, Paarl where these teams play out second game of the three-ODI series.

This is the first time these sides will be pitted against one another at Paarl. Hosts have a fairly decent record at Boland Park, winning 3 out of 4 ODIs. For the visitors, this will be a match, where they can deny the Proteas from sealing the series.

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Bangladesh at De Beers Diamond Oval were undone by some brilliant batting by Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla. The pair singlehandedly won chased down a steep target of 288 runs. Mushfiqur Rahim played a lone hand in his sides’ score, making 110. Players like Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah supported him but they could not sustain for long.

With no Tamim Iqbal, onus lies on senior pros like Shakib, Shabbir Rahman and Mahmudullah to rally around Rahim. Speaking of their bowling, none expect Shakib impressed with the white-cherry in hand.

Amla and de Kock clinically shred skipper Mashrafe Mortaza, Rubel Hossain and Taskin Ahmed into bits; Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers did not even bat.

They were guilty of spraying the ball all across the pitch. A jump in performances here will mean Bangladesh live to fight in the third and final ODI. Team management might opt to bring in Mehedi Hasan given how poorly Mohammad Saifudin was treated by his opposition on the field.

Mustafizur Rahman’s availability is still unsure only adding salt to the wounds. Bangladesh could replace Taskin if Mustafizur is match fit.

South Africa, on the other hand, will look to rekindle their show from Kimberley. Kasigo Radaba, Imran Tahir and Dwayne Pretorious shone with the ball, in particularly Radada. His second spell to down Bangladesh’s stiff middle-order was a treat.

Dane Paterson will be expected to put on a better show second time around knowing Wayne Parnell is waiting in the wings.

It was all along the de Kock-Amla show for South Africa, both notched hundreds at a brisk pace. De Kock in specific, cantered his opponents all around in an innings that included 21 fours and merely 2 sixes.

South Africa are highly unlikely to draft in a change to the playing XI.

Quote-Unquote

Mashrafe Mortaza: “We have a chance to make a comeback in the next two games.  It is only natural to have a lot of talk around us but the players have to fight. We will do everything possible. The result is not coming in our favour, which makes it hard to keep the positive mentality.”

Likely XIs:

Bangladesh: Liton Das, Imrul Kayes, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Shakib Al Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Mahmudullah, Mashrafe Mortaze (c), Nasir Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Mehdi Hasan Taskin Ahmed

South Africa: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wk), Faf du Plessis (c), AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorious, Kagiso Rabada, Wayne Parnell, Imran Tahir