Bangladesh women’s cricket team made history on Victory Day as they beat South Africa by 119 runs in the first of three One Day Internationals at Buffalo Park in East London Saturday.
This was the Tigresses’ biggest ODI victory in runs and also their first triumph on South Africa soil in the 50-over format.
Asked to bat first, the women in red and green posted 250 losing only three wickets, riding on Murshida Khatun’s career best unbeaten 91.
This was the Tigresses’ best ever ODI total, surpassing the 234/7 against Pakistan in the 2022 World Cup in Hamilton.
Player of the match Murshida’s 100-ball knock, featuring a dozen fours, was also the second best ODI innings by a Bangladesh woman, behind Fargana Hoque Pinky’s 107 against India in Dhaka last July.
The visitors were given a good start by the openers Shamima Sultana (34) and Fargana (35), who put on 66 before Shamima was dismissed.
After Fargana departed with the score on 110/2, Murshida first added 80 for the third wicket with captain Nigar Sultana Joty (38) before stitching together 60 for the unbroken fourth wicket alongside in-form Shorna Akter (27 not out).
By the end of the 32nd over, the tourists had registered 123/2, but hammered more than that (127) in the last 18.
In reply, the hosts lost wickets at regular intervals and never really got going in their chase in the face of some disciplined bowling by the visiting side.
Eliz-mari Marx (35) and Sune Luus (31) only reduced the margin of defeat as the home side were all out for 131 in 36.3 overs.
Left-arm spinner Nahida Akter led the Bangladesh bowling with 3/33, while off-spinner Sultana Khatun (2/32) and leg-spinners Rabeya Khan (2/24) and Fahima Khatun (2/16) shared six wickets between them.
The second ODI will be held Wednesday in Potchefstroom, followed by the third Saturday in Benoni.
The two sides earlier played out a 1-1 draw in the three-match Twenty20 international series with the other game washed out.
1ST ODI
Bangladesh women 250/3 (Murshida 91*, Nigar 38) beat South Africa women 131 in 36.3 overs (Marx 35, Nahida 3/33) by 119 runs
