On this day in 2017: South Africa’s biggest ODI victory
South Africa has been gifted with some of the most talented cricketers to have ever played the game, yet they flatter to deceive at the biggest, most decisive stages of ICC events. But Bangladesh won’t be throwing shade at the Proteans anytime soon as the Asian outfit were bashed mercilessly by the African side on this day in 2017 to record their slowest victory by ten wickets in ODIs.
Bangladesh, who were touring the rainbow nation in 2017, arrived in Kimberley for the first ODI between the two sides. The visitors opted to bat first after winning the toss and made a sedate start against a weakened Proteas bowling line-up. Both the set openers, Imrul Kayes (31) and Litton Das (21), departed one after the other before the experienced pair of Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim consolidated for a brief while.
Although wickets kept tumbling from one end, Rahim dropped anchor for the Asian outfit. He registered a combative 110 of 116 deliveries to drag Bangladesh to a respectful total of 278 runs at the end of their 50 overs. Kagiso Rabada was at his usual best, scalping four wickets in his ten overs.
Rahim’s innings provided Bangladesh a glimmer of hope, which was short-lived as the Protean openers started in the fifth gear. The elegance of Hashim Amla was complimented by the belligerence of Quinton de Kock from the other end. The visitors kept hoping for a breakthrough and threw everything they had at the South African openers to no avail.
By the time they reached their respective half-centuries the result was a foregone conclusion with the likes of Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers, David Miller, and Jean-Paul Duminy still waiting for their turn in the dugout. But it wasn’t to be for the ones waiting as the openers continued on their merry way, registering their respective centuries in the process of guiding South Africa to a comprehensive victory by ten wickets.
Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla’s unbeaten opening stand of 282 was the third-highest opening partnership in ODIs at that time and remains South Africa’s highest partnership for the first wicket to date.
