Bangladesh Emerging Seal ODI Series with Win Over South Africa Emerging Men

Rakibul Hasan's All-Round Brilliance Seals Series Win for Bangladesh Emerging Over South Africa Emerging Men

Rajshahi, May 16, 2025 – South Africa Emerging Men fell short in their quest for a series victory as Bangladesh Emerging clinched the decisive one-day international by 34 runs at the Shahid Kamruzzaman Stadium. The home side sealed the three-match series 2-1, thanks to a match-defining all-round performance from Rakibul Hasan, whose contributions with both bat and ball were instrumental in denying the visitors a famous come-from-behind win.

After fighting back in the second ODI with an inspired performance, South Africa Emerging were brimming with confidence heading into the series decider. However, Friday's clash brought a reminder of how quickly the momentum can shift in limited-overs cricket. Despite restricting Bangladesh to what initially looked like a modest total of 225, the visitors struggled with the bat, folding for just 191 in 38.2 overs.

Rakibul Hasan Turns the Game Around

The turning point came late in Bangladesh’s innings. With the hosts teetering on the brink at 118 for 7, Rakibul Hasan, batting at number 10, produced a vital knock of 42 runs, stabilizing the lower order alongside Mahfuzur Rabby, who top-scored with a well-paced 58 off 77 balls. Their 84-run ninth-wicket partnership not only rescued Bangladesh from collapse but also shifted the pressure back onto the South African bowlers.

Rakibul’s impact didn’t end with the bat. The slow left-arm spinner returned with a vengeance, scything through the South African batting lineup with figures of 4 for 26, exploiting the Rajshahi surface’s turn and bounce. His Player of the Match performance effectively sealed the series, showing composure and cricketing intelligence beyond his years.

South Africa’s Missed Opportunity

For South Africa Emerging, the series finale felt like a game that slipped through their fingers. After choosing to bowl first and grabbing early breakthroughs, including the dismissals of Rizwan Chowdhury for a duck and Mahfijul Islam for 26, the visitors had Bangladesh at 63 for 4 inside 15 overs. Tiaan van Vuuren (2/41) and Tshepo Ndwandwa (3/28) spearheaded the attack effectively, with Ndwandwa removing key batsman Akbar Ali for 38.

With Wasi Siddiquee run out for a duck soon after, Bangladesh were reeling at 118 for 8. But the visiting side failed to maintain discipline in the closing stages. South Africa couldn’t stop the lower-order counterattack and let Bangladesh escape to 225 a total that would prove more than enough.

In the chase, George van Heerden (34) and Andile Mokgakane (35) gave brief hope to the visitors, but frequent wickets left them exposed. Mokgakane, who had been one of the standout batters in the previous games, fell just when the chase seemed to stabilize. The middle-order collapse was severe Pillay, Forrester, Esterhuizen all fell cheaply, leaving the lower order with far too much to do.

Tiaan van Vuuren tried to rally again with a top score of 40, and Nqobani Mokoena added a gritty 37, but the team was ultimately bowled out with more than 11 overs to spare.

Bangladesh Emerging’s Resilience Pays Off

After narrowly losing the second ODI by 10 runs, Bangladesh Emerging showed great mental fortitude to bounce back and close out the series at home. Headlined by Rakibul Hasan’s heroics, their victory was underpinned by smart captaincy and depth in both batting and bowling. The team managed to convert a potentially sub-par total into a match-winning one, a sign of growing maturity in their young cricketers.

What’s Next: Transition to the Red Ball

Both sides now prepare for the red-ball leg of the tour, which begins Sunday, May 20, with the first of two four-day matches to be played at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. The Test-format games will provide an opportunity for South Africa Emerging to reset after the disappointment of the series loss and offer players a platform to display their temperament and longer-format skills.

Bangladesh Emerging, on the other hand, will look to carry the momentum from their ODI series win into the longer format, where the focus shifts to patience, technique, and endurance. It’s also a chance for both cricket boards to continue investing in the development of their respective pipelines.