Kagiso Rabada smashed an 11-ball 23 to propel South Africa to 369-6, after a 151-run stand between Faf du Plessis and Aiden Markram.
It did not take long for the Proteas to get going, as Temba Bavuma smashed a short delivery square of the wicket for four off the first ball of the match. His inclusion at the top of the order came as a surprise after news broke on Friday that Hashim Amla would be rested and replaced by Aiden Markram.
The 27-year-old has opened up the batting once before, scoring a ton on debut against Ireland in 2016. Once again he looked good in the role, supporting De Kock in a 119-run partnership as De Kock reached his 15th half-century. Bavuma, however, failed to experience the thrill of raising his bat, falling just two runs short of his 50 in an attempt to clear the ropes with an unnecessary straight drive, Mehedi Hasan making the breakthrough.
The 19-year-old fooled De Kock too, sending the 24-year-old back after a flighty delivery which he skied, the spinner taking a simple catch to dismiss him on 73 off 68 balls (9×4 and 6×1).
This brought the debutant Markram to the crease. The 23-year-old joined his captain with SA on 132-2 after 21 overs, and the pair both charged forward to steady the ship.
Du Plessis led as a captain should, reaching his half-century in 44 balls, and the youngster diligently followed, reaching his half-century in 47 deliveries. The pair put on a record partnership on the ground in a stand of 151 off 114 balls, before Du Plessis was piggybacked off the ground by David Miller, forced to retire hurt after a 67-ball 91 (10×4 and 1×6).
Markram was SA’s third wicket to fall, taking an unnecessary second run to see himself run out on 66 off 60 deliveries (4×4 and 1×6).
But the damage was not over for Bangladesh, who now had to deal with the man who dismantled them in the second ODI. After a beautiful set-up by South Africa’s top order, De Villiers walked out to a standing ovation at Buffalo Park.
He took just three dot balls to get his eye in before hitting his first boundary, and nine balls before he hit his first maximum as the Proteas reached 300 by the 43rd over.
Those were his only successful boundaries, however, as he was dismissed by Rubel on 20, sparking a collapse by the bottom order. Mulder (2) fell in the 46th over and Andile Phehlukwayo in the 47th.
A cameo from Kagiso Rabada at the back-end of the innings and a 24-ball 33 from Farhaan Behardien helped to set the Tigers a target of 370.
SA 369-6 (50 overs) – Faf du Plessis 91, Quinton de Kock 73, Aiden Markram 66, Mehedi Hasan 2-59
Bangladesh need 370 runs to win.
Photo: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images
