A lacklustre bowling and fielding display from South African was followed by an equally modest batting performance as they slumped to 131 all out and defeat by 119-runs against an inspired Bangladesh side in the first of three one-day internationals at Buffalo Park in East London on Saturday.
Superb, composed batting from left-hander Murshida Khatun, who finished unbeaten on 91 from 100 balls, saw Bangladesh post a formidable total of 250-3 after being asked to bat first and the home side crashed to 9-2 in the third over and never looked likely to recover.
Sune Luus scored a modest 31 from 38 balls but the rest of the top-order had no answer to Bangladesh’s trio of spinners of whom left-armer Nahida Akter was outstanding with 2-33.
Legspinners Rabeya Khan and Fahima Khatun claimed 2-24 and 2-16 respectively while offspinner Sultana Khatun picked up 1-32 against South Africa’s batters who had no answer to the turning ball and the lack of pace with which they were bowled.
Earlier, openers Shamima Sultana (34) and Fargana Pinky Hoque (35) laid a solid platform with an opening stand of 66 inside the first 15 overs for Bangladesh after being asked to bat first before the former edged debutant Eliz-Mari Marx to ‘keeper Sinalo Jafta having faced 48 balls and stroked five fours.
Fargana’s innings of 35 was more measured coming from 76 balls (3x4) before a miscued drive against impressive offspinner Delmi Tucker was well caught at mid on by Marx.
But 24-year-old Murshida was relentless in her pursuit of singles as well as collecting 12 fours from the 100 balls she faced against an attack enduring a collectively poor day at the office.
Shorna Akter, just 16-years-old, finished with a delightful 27 not out from just 28 deliveries and added an unbeaten 60 for the fourth wicket with Murshida.
HISTORIC DAY FOR BANGLADESH
The total was Bangladesh’s highest in an ODI and they were excellent value for an outstanding victory which was also the most comprehensive in their history.
Having beaten South Africa just once before and losing their last nine matches against the Momentum Proteas it was a historic day for the team.
Tucker conceded just 10 runs from her first six overs and appeared to have put the brakes on the scoring rate but finished with 1-43 from 10 overs while Marx’s debut did not go according to plan as she leaked 43 runs from her six overs.
Left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba returned tidy figures of 1-37 from her 10 overs and the experienced Ayabonga Khaka (10-0-42-0) recovered well from un untidy start but a series of misfields and the concession of 23 wides summed up a forgettable innings for the Proteas.
Star allrounder Marizanne Kapp returned to the squad after injury but was not included in the starting XI because of illness.
The preceding T20 International series was shared 1-1 after Bangladesh won the first game by 13 runs and the home side won the third match by eight wickets after a washout in Kimberley.
SOUTH AFRICA: Tazmin Brits, Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Anneke Bosch, Sune Luus, Delmi Tucker, Nadine de Klerk, Eliz-Mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Sinalo Jafta (wkt), Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas.
BANGLADESH: Nigar Sultana (capt/wkt), Nahida Akter, Fargana Pinky, Murshida Khatun, Ritu Moni, Shorna Akter, Rabeya, Fahima Khatun, Marufa Akter, Shamima Sultana, Sultana Khatun.