Confident Bangladesh women face South Africa Friday

Bangladesh women’s team will start their tour of South Africa facing the host in the first game of the five-match ODI series at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom Friday. Tourist Bangladesh are highly motivated and confident following their 90-run win in the lone 50-over warm-up game against the North West side Wednesday. Bangladesh with the bat had posted 270 losing two wickets in their stipulated 50 overs, riding on unbeaten centuries from ODI captain Rumana Ahmed and No 3 batter Fargana Haque. With the ball, leg-spinner Fahima Khatun had stunned the opposition with her magnificent eight-wicket haul in 10 overs, conceding just five runs and bagging as many as six maidens.

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Also read: Ton-up Rumana, Fargana as Fahima takes eight wickets for five runs

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Bangladesh travelled to South Africa Saturday with the mission of gathering experience, and if possible, make an impact. The side last played an international match last year when they featured in the World Cup Qualifier in Sri Lanka. Having returned to the international fold after a gap of 14 months, they will have a point to prove against a strong South Africa outfit. Following the South Africa tour, which also consists a three-match T20I series, the women in red and green are set to play the Asia Cup T20 in Malaysia in June. The side will then travel to Ireland for a 10-day long tour before flying to the Netherlands to play the World T20 Qualifiers. If they manage to qualify for the world event for the shortest format, Bangladesh will head to the West Indies in November for the finals.