Bowlers Lead Bangladesh to Victory in First ODI Against South Africa

17 Dec

MURSHIDA KHATUN AND BOWLERS POWER BANGLADESH TO VICTORY IN THE FIRST ODI

EAST LONDON: An amalgamation of an unbeaten half-century from Murshida Khatun and a team effort from the bowlers helped Bangladesh seal a famous 119-run triumph over the Proteas Women in the first One-Day International (ODI) in East London on Saturday to go 1-0 up in the three-match series.

Player of the Match M. Khatun produced a career-best innings of 91* off 100 deliveries, including 12 fours, to guide Bangladesh to an imposing total of 250/3 before spinner Nahida Akter claimed leading figures of three for 33 alongside her fellow bowlers to restrict South Africa to 131 all out after 36.3 overs.

After being put into bat by the home side following the toss, Bangladesh made the most of their opportunity as openers Shamima Sultana (34) and Fargana Hoque (35) put together a first-wicket partnership worth 66 runs within 15 overs before debutant Eliz-Mari Marx (1/43) made the breakthrough for her first ODI wicket.

With S. Sultana back in the change room, Hoque teamed up with M. Khatun for another vital stand to take the visitors into three figures in the 20th over before another important wicket for South Africa, with Delmi Tucker (1/43) picking up the scalp of Hoque to leave the Tigresses 110/2 in the 27th over.

The loss of Hoque did little to slow down the away side as M. Khatun and skipper Nigar Sultana (38) added another 50-run stand to the scoreboard, with M, Khatun raising her bat for a third career fifty to help take her side close to the 200-run mark.

With the Bangladeshi tails up at the crease, left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba (1/37) broke the all-important partnership in the 42nd over, producing a caught and bowled to see the back of N. Sultana left the subcontinent side on 190/3.

With less than 10 overs to go, young all-rounder Shorna Akter (28*) then joined the in-form M. Khatun in the middle as the duo combined to great effect to add 60 more runs to the total as Bangladesh eventually finished on a competitive 250/3 in their allotted 50 overs.

In the second innings, South Africa’s chase got off to an unfavourable start as top-order batters Laura Wolvaardt (5) and Tazmin Brits (4) fell to spinner Sultana Khatun (2/32) and fast bowler Marufa Akter (1/19) within the first three overs.

Despite a brief reprieve for South Africa, with Anneke Bosch (16) and Suné Luus (31) adding 41 runs for the third wicket, N. Akter picked up two wickets to rock the South Africans, removing both batters in quick succession to leave them reeling on 63/4 in the 17th over.

With the host nation still needing 188 runs for victory, Nadine de Klerk (1) was the next wicket to fall for the Proteas with Rabeya Khan (2/24) joining the wicket-taking party for the visitors. Two overs later, things went from bad to worse for South Africa as Tucker (14) became the sixth batter to be dismissed – falling to Khan.

Although the hosts’ lower order showed commendable fight and spirit with the bat through contributions from Marx (35), Sinalo Jafta (11) and Masabata Klaas (7), South Africa’s chase came to an end on 131 all-out as Bangladesh wrapped up the victory with 13.3 overs remaining.

The second ODI begins on Wednesday, 20 December from 14h00 at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom.