Tigers hoping for Centurion repeat

Bangladesh will go into the third and final ODI against South Africa today at Centurion looking to make history by winning their first-ever ODI series in South African soil.

Bangladesh won the first ODI by 38 runs at the same ground before succumbing to a seven-wicket defeat in the second ODI at the Wanderers to leave the series poised at 1-1.

The Tigers will be bolstered by the fact that ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan decided to remain with the side and play the third ODI despite a number of his family members facing health complications back home.

Spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz talked to the media yesterday and said that the Tigers were looking to keep supporting Shakib through the turmoil. The premier all-rounder's availability for the series had been in focus before the series after he admitted to not feeling mentally or physically prepared for international cricket.

However, the all-rounder later informed that he was available for the series in South Africa. And he was on fire with the bat in the first ODI, hitting a 64-ball 77 that left a remarkable mark on the Tigers' eventual score of 314 for seven and allowed them to attain their very first win on South African soil in any format.

"We all know that Shakib bhai is very strong mentally. But family issues are [a] very big [thing]. Everyone is supporting him and he has been playing well. It's normal that if someone's family is going through rough times, it impacts the person. But as a team, we've been supporting him," Miraz said yesterday.

Bangladesh's main focus will be on how the pitch fares in the third ODI after the pitch in the second ODI left them baffled, especially in terms of its uneven bounce.

"It was difficult for the batters. If the wicket was better, the scenario could have been different. The wickets at Centurion is good. We're confident and we've scored more than 300 here. If batters can put up a good score, the bowlers can bowl with confidence," Miraz said.

With the wicket in focus, opener Liton Das was talking to reporters and said the surface was a good one. "There will be challenge. One wicket being easier to bat on [than the other] doesn't mean it won't be a challenge," Liton said.

The visitors will be hoping that their openers can do something similar to what they did in the first ODI after a top-order collapse in the second ODI. Tamim and Liton had put up a 95-run stand which allowed the rest of the batters to score quick runs. That, coupled with the confidence and consistency from the faster bowlers, gives Tigers hope of something special today.