Bangladesh beats SA to level ODI series

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP):

Soumya Sarkar smashed a fluent 88 not out as Bangladesh beat South Africa for only the second time, winning the second one-day international by seven wickets yesterday to level the series.

On a slower pitch where South African batsmen had found batting a tough job and were bowled out for 162 in 46 overs, Bangladesh batted aggressively to gun down the target within 27.4 overs.

The victory also confirmed Bangladesh's 2017 Champions Trophy berth in England.

"This was a much-needed win," Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza said. "The last eight months, we have been playing well. We lost the last four matches but we have come back.

"The bowlers gave us a good platform, and the batsmen stepped up. It's a good sign for us before going to the third match."

Soumya and Mahmudullah (50) combined for a 135-run stand, Bangladesh's highest-ever partnership against South Africa. They rebuilt the innings from a tottering 24-2 after a Kagiso Rabada (2-45) burst.

Soumya sealed the victory with a six at deep-midwicket, where Rabada could only parry it, despite a giant leap, to send the home crowd berserk. That was his only six in an 88 off 79, which also included 13 boundaries.

miscommunication

Rabada and Faf Du Plessis also missed Soumya's catch when the batsman was on 60, because of a miscommunication between them.

Rabada, fresh from a record 6-16, had unsettled the Bangladesh batsmen. He nabbed Tamim (5) with a short-pitched delivery before dismissing Litton Das (17), who counter-attacked in style but couldn't sustain it against a barrage of short balls.

Mahmudullah scored 50 off 64, with six fours, before Kyle Abbott (1-22) got him when Bangladesh was just four runs away from victory.