Looking back at the historic tour of March 2022, the Bangladesh national cricket team etched a momentous chapter into the annals of international sporting history by securing their first-ever series victory on South African soil across any format. Culminating a fiercely contested three-match campaign, the Tigers delivered a masterclass in both discipline and execution at SuperSport Park in Centurion, dismantling the Proteas by nine wickets in a decisive third One Day International.

The foundation of this historic triumph was laid by a sensational bowling performance spearheaded by fast bowler Taskin Ahmed. Operating with exceptional rhythm and exploiting the generous extra bounce offered by the Centurion surface, Taskin produced a career-best spell of five wickets for just thirty-five runs from his nine overs. His relentless pace and probing lines completely unravelled the South African batting order, reducing the hosts to a meagre total of one hundred and fifty-four all out in thirty-seven overs—representing South Africa’s lowest-ever ODI total against Bangladesh.

Initially, the home side appeared poised for a commanding total following a solid opening stand. Quinton de Kock and Janneman Malan raced to forty-six without loss inside the opening seven overs, capitalising on the initial powerplay. However, once Taskin found his stride, the momentum shifted dramatically. The right-arm pacer claimed the crucial scalps of Janneman Malan, Kyle Verreynne, David Miller, Dwaine Pretorius, and Kagiso Rabada. Four of Taskin’s five victims edged deliveries through to experienced wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim, a dismissal route that enabled the stalwart keeper to celebrate a personal career milestone of two hundred catches in One Day Internationals.

Defending a modest target of one hundred and fifty-five, the South African bowling attack faced an inspired opening pair determined to seal the series. Captain Tamim Iqbal led from the front with a commanding, unbeaten knock of eighty-seven runs from just eighty-two deliveries. Displaying trademark fluency and supreme technical poise, the left-handed opener peppered the boundaries across the ground, including a blistering sequence where he struck four boundaries in a single over off the spearhead fast bowler Kagiso Rabada.

Tamim found exceptional support in fellow opener Liton Das, who contributed a polished forty-eight runs from fifty-three balls, featuring eight well-timed boundaries before falling near the finish line. Together, the pair forged a record-breaking opening partnership of one hundred and twenty-seven runs—the highest opening stand ever recorded by a visiting team in South Africa for Bangladesh. Their aggressive yet composed approach put the hosts firmly on the back foot from the outset, allowing the Tigers to cruise home with one hundred and forty-one balls to spare.

Reflecting on the overwhelming support at the venue, Tamim Iqbal noted that the electric atmosphere created by expatriate supporters made Centurion feel akin to a “mini Dhaka.” This watershed series victory not only sealed a 2-1 triumph over a formidable opponent in their own backyard but also injected immense confidence into the squad’s preparations heading into future global tournaments.

Match and Series Statistical Overview