The Bangla Tigers posted an impressive 314/7 and achieved a win by a handsome margin of 38 runs to also bag a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and 10 crucial points in the ICC Super League.
Bangladesh may have their persistent issues in Tests and T20Is but seems to be a team on the rise in ODIs, something they made clear through performance in command on foreign soil. Having gone through a long, painstaking losing streak in South African conditions, they finally tilt one their way.
Put into bat first after losing the toss, the visitors posted a score in excess of 300. Their openers began the show with a fantastic stand of 95 runs, with skipper Tamim Iqbal scoring 41 off 67 and his batting partner Liton Das making a 67-ball 50.
The duo departed in quick succession thereafter and were joined soon by wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim (9). But premier allrounder Shakib Al Hasan (77 off 64) and middle-order batter Yasir Ali (50 off 44) ensured their team stayed in line for a sizable score. Critical cameos from Mahmudullah (25), Afif Hossain (17) and Mehidy Hasan (19*) also helped Bangladesh a lot.
Lower-order powerhitting and wicket-taking ability have been Bangladesh’s two major issues outside their home terrain. But on the day, both were taken care of. The latter saw fast-bowler Taskin Ahmed (3/36), Shoriful Islam (2/47) and Mehidy (4/61) apply constant pressure on the Proteas.
The Taskin-Islam new-ball pairing reduced SA to 38/3, with still another 277 runs needed. In desperate search for saviours, the Proteas found two in Rassie van der Dussen (86) and David Miller (79), who took the fight back to the opposition via a resolute 85-run stand. But once Bangladesh went past VDD and Miller, a South African defeat was set in stone. The hosts eventually finished with 276 on a relatively flat batting surface.
Brief scores
Bangladesh 314/7 in 50 overs (Al Hasan 77, Ali 50; Maharaj 2/56) beat South Africa 276/10 in 48.5 overs (Van der Dussen 86, Miller 79; Hasan 4/61) by 38 runs
