Bangladesh concede big defeat in preparatory match
Dhaka: Bangladesh Cricket team maintained their dismal performance in South Africa tour conceding a six-wicket defeat against Proteas Invitational Eleven in the lone one-day preparatory match at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on Thursday ahead of the three-match ODI series beginning on Saturday.
Replying to Tigers' 255 runs for all in 48.1 overs, the South Africa Invitational Eleven reached their target making 257 for 4 in 46.3 overs forcing Bangladesh to suffer another defeat following whitewash in the two-match Test series.
The Proteas made a good start scoring 147 runs in 25.4 overs in the opening stand by AK Markram and M Breetzke.
AK Markram contributed a polished 82-run innings off 68 deliveries with eight fours and one six while M Breetzke scored 100 ball-71 hitting nine boundaries.
Besides, captain JP Duminy scored 42-ball 34 runs with two fours, AB De Villiers made 50-ball 43 runs with two fours and one six, K Zondo not out 10 and L Klaasen 5 runs for Proteas.
All rounder Mahmudullah grabbed two wickets for 13 runs while Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and all rounder Nasir Hossain took one wicket each giving away 47 and 52 runs respectively.
Earlier, visiting Bangladesh opted to bat first after winning the toss, but their decision backfired as they lost four early wickets for 63 runs in 14.5 overs in the absence of injured opener Tamim Iqbal.
After the dismissal of four top order batsmen -Soumya Sarkar (3), Imrul Kayes (27), Liton Kumar Das (8) and Test captain Mushfiqur Rahim (22) - for 63 runs, world famed all rounder Shakib Al Hasan pairing with Mahmudullah Riyad repaired the early damage scoring 57 runs in the 5th wicket stand.
Number five batsman Shakib Al Hasan again partnering with Sabbir Rahman contributed to 76 runs in the 6th wicket stand.
Shakib, who joined the Bangladesh team after enjoying leave in the Test series, hammered the team highest 68 runs off 67 deliveries, featuring nine boundaries while number seven batsman Sabbir Rahman scored 52 runs off 54 balls hitting two fours and three sixes.
Mahmudullah Riyad (21), skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (17), Mohammad Saifuddin not out 13 and Nasir Hossain (12) were the other scorers for Bangladesh team.
Visiting Bangladesh, which was whitewashed in the two-match Test series humiliatingly, will play the first ODI of the 3-match series against South Africa on Saturday (Oct 15) at the De Beers Diamond Oval in Kimberley.
The 2nd ODI will be held on October 18 at the Boland Park in Paarl and 3rd and last ODI on October 22 at Buffalo Park in East London.
After the ODI series, touring Bangladesh will play a two-match T20 series against the Proteas, firstly on October 26 back at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein again, and the second on October 29 at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom, concluding their tour first full tour of South Africa in nine years.
The first T20 match will kick-off at 10pm BST while 2nd and last T20 will begin at 6:30 pm BST.