Sports Reporter :The touring South Africa posted an easy eight-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the rain- interrupted 1st ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Friday.The match was reduced to 40-over-a-side due to downpour.Electing to bat first, Bangladesh scored 160 in 36.3 overs.In reply, South Africa reached the winning target making 164 for the loss of two wickets when they had 53 balls to spare.Needing 161 runs to win, South Africa lost their first wicket for 22 runs. It was pacer Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, who gave early breakthrough for the tigers. Opener Hashim Amla (14) was caught at the short fine leg by Mahmudullah Riyad off the country’s best pacer.Then Quinton de Kock and Faf du Plessis repaired the early damage adding together 43 runs for the second wicket partnership before Kock was caught at the cover by Sabbir Rahman off spinner Nasir Hossain when the tourists’ total was 65 for the loss of two wickets. Kock made a respectable 35 from 41 balls including five fours.Then Faf du Plessis and Rilee Rossouw guided the tourists to reach the winning target.Plessis and Rossouw contributed together 99 runs for the unbroken third wicket partnership.Faf du Plessis remained unbeaten with 63 while Rossouw remained undefeated with 45.Earlier, Bangladesh faced an early debacle as they lost their early four wickets for just 40 runs. Debutante pacer Kagiso Rabada bowled extremely well and finished his superb spell as 8-3-16-6. He played the key role in wrecking Bangladesh’s innings.
