Plays: Shakib's double strike, AB in the mood, review confusion and Imrul finally reaches half-century

Shakib’s double strikeAfter electing to field first, Bangladesh were under all sorts of pressure once again as South Africa openers Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock started from where they had left off in the first ODI at De Beers Diamond Oval in Kimberley. These two formed a world record stand while chasing 279. And after the first few overs, it looked like another big partnership was on the cards for the Proteas openers. But thanks to all-rounder Shakib al Hasan, he broke their stand in the 18th over when the scoreboard read 90. Shakib also picked up the wicket of South African skipper Faf du Plessis as he cleaned him up with a clever delivery just three balls later. So relief for Bangladesh who finally got some wickets. And the double strike was important for Shakib as well as he was wicketless in his last five ODIs. With the double dismissal, Bangladesh brought themselves back into the game slightly for a few overs but eventually, South Africa posted a huge total.

Shakib Al Hasan gives Bangladesh back to back wickets. SA - 90/2 (18) #SAvBAN pic.twitter.com/quD6qBD7ZX

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) October 18, 2017

Master blaster AB in the moodAB de Villiers took charge of the South African attack straightaway after he came to the crease. The star batsman took a break after the 2017 Champions trophy and skipped the ODI series against England away from home. He also took break from Test cricket and did not play the two-match series against Bangladesh. So it was a return for AB to the international fold and he celebrated his return with a stunning 176-run innings. De Villiers reached his century in just 68 balls and later smashed the ball all around the park to help South Africa post a massive total. AB finally got out on 176 off 104 balls with 15 boundaries and seven sixes.

And there were people that kept on doubting this man! @ABdeVilliers17 is an absolute genius when he steps onto the park! #livinglegend

— Dane van Niekerk (@danevn81) October 18, 2017

Review confusionChasing a huge total of 354, Bangladesh needed a big partnership from their opening pair Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes. Tamim was particularly key as the opener is in good form in 2017. Although the opener just returned from injury, which ruled him out from the second and final Test at Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein and the first ODI, a big innings was expected from him. But the left-hander was trapped in front while playing an awkward late-cut shot against seamer Dwayne Pretorius. In the naked eye, the ball seemed to have missed the off-stump or just hit the off-stump. But Tamim and non-striking batsman Imrul did not opt for the review. Later it was revealed that the ball would have missed the off-stump. A few overs later No 3 batsman Liton Kumar Das (14) was adjudged lbw and it looked pretty plumb. But surprisingly, this time around, Bangladesh went for a review and the replays showed the ball would have hit the middle stump. And so on both occasions, the Tigers were wrong with their review judgement.

Early wicket in the innings for #SA and it came once again from @dwainep__29 as he trapped Tamim Iqbal LBW https://t.co/wWXJPYrmuz #GM2017 pic.twitter.com/geyraZaTfT

— GM Cricket ? (@GMCricket) October 18, 2017

Imrul scores 68 in the endFinally, Imrul registered his first half-century of the South Africa tour as the left-handed opener scored 68 off 77 balls with half a dozen boundaries and a six. In the ongoing tour, Imrul made promising starts, got set in the middle but was unfortunately dismissed on several occasions. He has posted scores of seven and 32 in the first Test at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom, 26 and 32 in the second Test, and 31 in the first ODI. Once again in the second ODI at Boland Park, the left-hander made a good start and this time, he eventually reached his fifty. However, he can count himself lucky as backward point fielder JP Duminy dropped his catch when he was on 49. But finally though, Imrul edged past the 30-run region.