CENTURION: All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan scored a superb 77 as Bangladesh claimed their first-ever victory in South Africa with a 38-run win in the first One-Day International here at SuperSport Park on Friday.

The tourists amassed an impressive 314 for seven in their 50 overs after being sent in to bat. South Africa were always battling in their reply and could only manage 276 all out in 48.5 overs as they slipped to a comprehensive defeat.

It is the first time in six Tests, nine ODIs and four T20s that Bangladesh have won in South Africa, a further blow to the hosts in the ICC’s ODI World Cup Super League as they languish in 10th and Bangladesh remain the surprise leaders.

The leading eight sides will qualify automatically for the World Cup in India next year.

Shakib, who had initially been rested for the tour but later joined the squad, anch­ored the Bang­ladesh innings with an attacking 77 from 64 balls while opener Litton Das and Yasir Ali, who both scored exactly 50, provided excellent support.

Rassie van der Dussen (86) and David Miller (79) kept South Africa interest alive until the final 10 overs but brilliant seam bowling by Taskin Ahmed (3-36) and the wily spin of Mehidy Hasan Miraz (4-61) laid the platform for the visitors’ win.

The second match in the three-game series will be played in Johann­es­burg on Sunday before the teams return to Johannesburg for the day-night finale on Wednesday.

Scoreboard

BANGLADESH:

Tamim Iqbal b Phehlukwayo 41

Litton Das b Maharaj 50

Shakib Al Hasan lbw b Ngidi 77

Mushfiqur Rahim c Miller b Maharaj 9

Yasir Ali c and b Rabada 50

Mahmudullah c Van der Dussen b Jansen 25

Afif Hossain c Van der Dussen b Jansen 17

Mehidy Hasan not out 19

Taskin Ahmed not out 7

EXTRAS (B-3, LB-3, NB-2, W-11) 19

TOTAL (for seven wkts, 50 overs) 314

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-95 (Tamim), 2-104 (Litton), 3-124 (Mushfiqur), 4-239 (Shakib), 5-243 (Yasir), 6-272 (Afif), 7-288 (Mahmudullah)

BOWLING: Ngidi 10-1-75-1 (1w); Rabada 10-0-57-1 (2w); Jansen 10-1-57-2 (1nb, 2w); Maharaj 10-0-56-2; Phehlukwayo 10-1-63-1 (1nb, 6w)

DID NOT BAT: Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman

SOUTH AFRICA:

K. Verreynne lbw b Taskin 21

J. Malan c Mushfiqur b Shoriful 4

T. Bavuma c Mushfiqur b Shoriful 31

A. Markram c Mehidy b Taskin 0

H. van der Dussen c Yasir b Taskin 86

D. Miller st Mushfiqur b Mehidy 79

A. Phehlukwayo c Litton b Mehidy 2

M. Jansen c Tamim b Mehidy 2

K. Rabada c and b Mehidy 1

K. Maharaj lbw b Mahmudullah 23

L. Ngidi not out 15

EXTRAS (B-4, W-8) 12

TOTAL (all out, 48.4 overs) 276

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-18 (Malan), 2-36 (Verreynne), 3-36 (Markram), 4-121 (Bavuma), 5-191 (Van der Dussen), 6-204 (Phehlukwayo), 7-229 (Jansen), 8-231 (Rabada), 9-242 (Miller)

BOWLING: Shakib Al Hasan 10-0-54-0; Shoriful Islam 8-0-47-2 (3w); Taskin Ahmed 10-1-36-3 (1w); Mustafizur Rahman 10-0-50-0 (3w); Mehidy Hasan 9-0-61-4; Mahmudullah 1.5-0-24-1 (1w)

RESULT: Bangladesh win by 38 runs.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Shakib Al Hasan

SERIES: Bangladesh lead three-match series 1-0.

UMPIRES: Marais Erasmus, Bongani Jele (both South Africa)

TV UMPIRE: Adrian Holdstock (South Africa)

MATCH REFEREE: Andy Pycroft (Zimbabwe)

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2022