Andile Simelane led a spirited fightback with the ball by grabbing five wickets to help South Africa Emerging Men claim a thrilling series-levelling 10-run win over Bangladesh Emerging in the second one-day match between the sides at the Shahid Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi on Monday.
The fast bowler finished with five for 56, including back-to-back wickets with what turned out to be the last two deliveries of the match, as the visitors clawed their way back from being close to defeat to snatch an impressive win.
Connor Esterhuizen and Dian Forrester had earlier struck blistering 90s that helped the tourists power their way to 332 for seven with Andile Mokgakane (55) also hitting a half-century.
But the telling moments of the game came in the final six overs when the home side were cruising towards victory on 291 for four and needing just over 40 runs from the final five overs with centurion Akbar Ali driving them on 131 (110 balls, 14 fours, 2 sixes).
However, Simelane had other ideas and altered the course of the game to make it 1-1 and set up a series decider at the same venue on Friday.
After losing the toss and being asked to bat first, the South Africans lost two wickets inside the opening 12 overs as Meeka-eel Prince (30) and Ntando Zuma (11) were dismissed by Mahfuzur Rabby (2/75) before the 50 was raised.
But Mokgakane and Esterhuizen (91 off 68 balls, 9 fours, 3 sixes), who also made a half-century in the first game, rebuilt expertly. The former acted more of an anchor with this 63-ball innings (5 fours, 1 six), though he still produced a free-flowing strike rate of 87.30, with the latter tearing into the bowling with his second successive half-century.
The two put on a wonderful third-wicket stand of 137 to put their side in the ascendancy shortly after the 30-over mark.
Both then fell in quick succession to Maruf Mridha (2/65) as the hosts hit back. However, Forrester (96* off 59 balls, 7 fours, 6 sixes) was in outstanding form as he seized control of proceedings with his world-wind performance that powered the visitors for the rest of the innings.
George van Heerden (12) hung around to offer some support, but it was all-rounder Forrester that was outstanding as he helped set a target of 333.
The Bangladesh chase had some bumps in the first 14 overs when Tshepo Ntuli (2/56) struck twice to leave them on 84 for three at one stage – Jishan Alam the main contributor early on with 50 off 34 balls (4 fours, 3 sixes).
Nqobani Mokoena (3/52) took the other wicket, before Ali, Ariful Islam (35) and Rizwan Chowdhury (37) combined to put them on course for victory.
But when Mokoena broke the fifth-wicket stand at 96 by removing dangerman Ali, the door opened and the South Africans barged their way through.
They then struck in the 46th, 47th and 48th overs, before Simelane’s double left the hosts all out for 322 with two balls to spare.
SA Emerging Men’s Squad against Bangladesh Emerging
George van Heerden (captain, Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Connor Esterhuizen (DP World Lions), Muhammad Manack (DP World Lions), Dian Forrester (Knights), Dewan Marais (Eastern Storm), Andile Mogakane (Dafabet Warriors), Nqobani Mokoena (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tshepo Ndwandwa (Momentum Multiply Titans), Tshepo Ntuli (Northern Cape Heat), Romashan Pillay (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Meeka-eel Prince (Renault North West Dragons), Andile Simelane (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Richard Seletswane (DP World Lions), Tiaan van Vuuren (Knights), and Ntandoyenkosi Zuma (ACDC Express Tuskers).
Fixtures (all times local)
One-Day Matches
Monday, 12 May at 09:00
Bangladesh Emerging beat South Africa Emerging by 3 wickets – Shahid Kamruzzaman Stadium, Rajshahi
Wednesday, 14 May at 09:00
Bangladesh Emerging lost to South Africa Emerging by 10 runs – Shahid Kamruzzaman Stadium, Rajshahi
Friday, 16 May at 09:00
Bangladesh Emerging vs South Africa Emerging – Shahid Kamruzzaman Stadium, Rajshahi
Four-Day Matches
Sunday, 20 May – Wednesday, 23 May at 09:30
Bangladesh Emerging vs South Africa Emerging – Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury, Chattogram
Sunday, 27 May – Wednesday, 30 May at 09:30
Bangladesh Emerging vs South Africa Emerging – Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka
