Bangladesh Under-19s clinched the youth ODI series against South Africa with a match to spare after a commanding 104-run victory in the second game at Willowmoore Park, Benoni, on 19 July.
After being sent in to bat, Bangladesh got off to a solid start with openers Jawad Abrar and Rifat Beg adding 56 runs for the first wicket. The partnership was broken in the 12th over when Rifat (18 off 39) was caught off Ntandoenkosi Sony’s bowling.
Jawad, looking in fluent touch, reached his half-century in just 45 balls, bringing it up with a towering six. However, he soon perished trying another aggressive stroke, caught at mid-on off Corné Botha for 57 off 53 balls.
Azizul Hakim Tamim and Rizaan Hossain then rebuilt the innings, showing composure and rotating the strike effectively. Tamim survived a scare on 30 when a mistimed shot was dropped at the boundary and went for four.
The pair stitched together a 100-run stand for the third wicket before Tamim (67 off 89) was dismissed by Botha. Mohammad Abdullah followed soon after, falling to Paul James for 10.
Rizaan brought up a well-paced fifty but was also removed by Paul, having made 52 off 70 balls. Late wickets slowed the scoring rate, but Bangladesh batted through the 50 overs to post a competitive total of 265 for 9.
South Africa’s reply got off to a horror start. Al Farhad bowled Adnaan Lagardien for 5 in the third over, and captain Mohammad Bulbulia was trapped lbw by Iqbal Hossain Imon in the next.
Farhad struck again to dismiss Armaan Manack, caught attempting a lofted drive, as South Africa slumped to 14 for 3.
Jason Roelofse and Vihaan Pretorius offered some resistance, putting on 37 runs before Tamim removed Pretorius. Roelofse then added another 49 with Luke Francis, but once again Tamim made the breakthrough, dismissing the well-set Roelofse for 51 off 48 balls.
From 100 for 4, South Africa’s lower order collapsed. Sanzid Majumdar and Samion Bashir picked up key wickets, and Swadhin Islam joined the act with two more scalps. Bashir sealed the win by claiming the final wicket, as South Africa were bowled out for just 161 in 37.3 overs.
The 104-run win gave Bangladesh a 2–0 lead in the three-match series. The final youth ODI is scheduled to be played on 21 July.