When Shakib al Hasan hit the final boundary, the television camera panned to spectators in the ground as they were ecstatic with sheer joy being lucky to observe history unfolding in front of their own eyes.
Bangladeshi fans clearly outnumbered the local fans at the South African ground and their joy knew no bounds when their beloved Tigers earned their spoils in the land of Lions, emphatically.
Just five days ago, Bangladesh national cricket team held the ignominious record of not winning a single international match against South Africa in South Africa but the Tigers not only have won the match but also sealed a historic series win on Wednesday at the Centurion.
Taskin Ahmed, the lanky first bowler bowled one of the finest spells in Bangladesh history while captain Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das formed an outstanding opening stand to give the men in red and green a comprehensive nine-wicket victory and the three-match series by 2-1.
Taskin returned with 5-35, his second five-wicket haul in career to bundle out South Africa, who won the toss, for just 154 runs in 37 overs before Tamim and Liton made a 127-run partnership to kill the game.
Liton got out for 48 against the run of play when he chipped on an easy catch at cover to South African captain Tenda Bavuma off Keshav Maharaj, depriving Bangladesh to get their first ever 10-wicket victory in ODI.
However, the wicket hardly changed the course of the game, which was completely dominated by the Tigers, as Tamim Iqbal remained not out on 87 off 82 and Shakib was unbeaten on 18 off 20 to navigate Bangladesh home in just 26.3 overs.
South African bowlers were desperate defending the small total and experienced Tamim, who scored his 52nd ODI fifty, counter attacked by scoring boundary in almost every over. Eventually he struck 14 fours while Liton hit and Shakib also blasted two fours in his short innings.
However, the turning point of the match was the bowling of player of the match Taskin. After winning the toss South Africa got off to a flying start before Quinton de Kock was held at long off by Mahmudullah off Mehidy for 12 when the score was 46 in 6.5 overs.
The hosts looked to set a big score as they scored 57 in first power play losing just one wicket but Taskin bowled Kyle Verreynne for nine in the 13th over to halt their progress. He got rid of opener Janemaan Malan, who scored highest 39, in his next over as Mushfiqur Rahim held his catch behind the wicket and Shakib trapped Bavuma in front of the wicket six balls later to reduce the hosts to 71-4 in 16th over.
Things got worse for them as left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam removed Van der Dussen for four and South Africa became 83-5. The hosts might still wrest some hope with their power hitters David Miller and Dwaine Pretorius but Taskin got rid of them both for 16 and 20 respectively before dismissing Kagiso Rabada to complete his five-for and any chance of South Africa to post a defendable score.
With the win Bangladesh have not only made history but also consolidated their top position in ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League 2020-22 with 120 points and 12 wins from 18 matches. South Africa on the other hand are languishing on ninth with 49 from 13 games.
