South Africa head to Kimberley one down in the series following a 13-run defeat against Bangladesh in the first T20I at Willowmoore Park in Benoni.
The Proteas finished on 136 for eight after the visitors earlier scored 149 for two following their decision to bat first. It is Bangladesh’s first T20I victory over South Africa in South Africa.
In the post-match interview, stand-in Protea captain Tazmin Brits expressed her disappointment with the result.
“We would have obviously liked to go away with one from one, but credit to Bangladesh who deserved to win today. I feel our bowling was a bit all over the place at the beginning while Bangladesh took wickets at crucial times, they were the better team on the day. We will come back stronger in the next game.”
Anneke Bosch and Brits opened the batting for South Africa and safely navigated the home team to the 50-run mark in the sixth over.
Brits was holding the reigns in the absence of newly-appointed fulltime skipper Laura Wolvaardt who will rejoin the team after helping the Adelaide Strikers to victory over the Brisbane Heat in the final of the Women’s Big Bash League in Australia.
At the beginning of the fourth over and with South Africa on 19 without loss, Bangladesh quick bowler Marufa Akter went down in a heap of pain when she was struck on the lower left leg by a powerful drive from Brits. After some treatment, the 18-year-old ran back to her mark with ball in hand.
South Africa lost their first wicket with the score on 69 when Bangladesh finally made a breakthrough in the 10th over. Britz didn’t get to the pitch of a Rabeya Khan delivery and was caught by Sobhana Mostary for 30 (26b 3x4 1x6).
It was back-to-back wickets for the visitors (72 for 2) when a misguided sweep from Annerie Dercksen (1, 5b) gave Fahima Khatun her first wicket of the tour.
South Africa’s 100 was up in the 15th over (100 for 2). Bosch’s third T20I 50 (41 b) came in the same over.
IMPRESSIVE SHORNA
Just as it seemed that former South African captain Suné Luus (18, 19b, 3x4) was getting on with things, she played one straight into the air and Shamima Sultana took a comfortable catch from the bowling of Shorna Akter.
With 28 needed of 18 balls, Bosch decided to take it to the Bangladesh bowlers. The gamble however didn’t pay off as Lata Mondal took a brilliant catch from Shorna Akter. Bosch had to depart for 67 (49b, 9x4, 1x6) and with the South African score on 123 for four. Just two deliveries later Nondumiso Shangase was stumped without scoring.
Debutant Eliz-Mari Marx only added one run in the penultimate over before Mondal took a comfortable catch from the bowling of Nahida and the writing was on the wall for the Proteas. In the last over, Shorna claimed the wickets of Meike de Ridder (1, 2b) and Masabata Klaas (0, 1b) to finish with figures of 5-28, impressive for a 16-year old (she turns 17 on 1 January.) She was deservedly named as the player of the match.
Earlier, Bangladesh crafted their way to their highest T20I total in South Africa thanks to Murshida Khatun’s top score of 62 from 59 deliveries (6x4, 6x1). She was duly assisted by her captain Nigar Sultana Joty who finished on 34 (21b, 6x4).
At the start of the visitors’ innings, Shamima hit the first two deliveries of Nonkululeko Mlaba for consecutive fours. Marx was quickly in on the action in the third over and Shamima promptly dispatched the Protea bowler’s first delivery to the boundary.
Shangase brought Bangladesh’s initial onslaught to a halt in the seventh over when Shamima lofted a delivery into the hands of Tumi Sekhukhune. The Bangladesh opener departed for 24 off 24 deliveries and with the score on 44.
The second-wicket partnership between Murshida Khatun and Sobhana Mostary added 39 runs to the Bangladesh total (83 for two, 13th over) before Sobhana was trapped lbw for 16 (17b) by Marx. The scalp was Marx’s first in T20Is.
Murshida’s 50 (51b, 6x4) was up in the 17th over with her intent clear to steer her side to a respectable and defendable total. Murshida finished on 62 not out (59b, 6x4, 1x6)) and Nigar on 34 (21b, 6x4).
The second T20I is on Wednesday 6 December (18:00) at the Kimberley Oval in Kimberley while the third match will take place on Friday 8 December (18:00), at the same venue. Three ODIs will follow.
SOUTH AFRICA: Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Annerie Dercksen, Mieke de Ridder, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Eliz-Mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase, Delmi Tucker.
BANGLADESH: Nigar Sultana Joty (captain), Nahida Akter, Shamima Sultana, Murshida Khatun, Sobhana Mostary, Lata Mondol, Shorna Akter, Shorifa Khatun, Rabeya Khan, Sultana Khatun, Marufa Akter.