Sports Reporter :
South Africa posted a massive 52-run victory over Bangladesh in the first Twenty20 International match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday.
Chasing South Africa’s healthy total of 148 for the loss of four wickets in 20 overs, Bangladesh were all out for 96 off 18.5 overs.
Bangladesh made a poor start as they lost their early two wickets for 13 runs.
Opener Tamim Iqbal was caught behind by wicketkeeper Q de Kock off KJ Abbott for just five runs.
Soumya Sarkar, the other opener was caught at the deep square leg by JP Duminy off K Rabadda for 7 when Bangladesh’s score was 13 for the loss of two wickets.
Then Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim added 37 runs for the third wicket stand before Mushfiqur Rahim was caught at the mid-wicket by DA Miller off JP Duminy for 17 when the Tigers’ total was 50 for the loss of three wickets. Shakib Al Hasan restored some parity hitting his team’s highest of 26 from 30 balls. Hasan was caught at the short fine leg by WD Parnell off D Wiese when Bangladesh’s score was 71 for the loss of six wickets.
Debutante Liton Das was the other notable scorer for Bangladesh who hit 22 from 26 balls before he was caught by AB de Villiers off D Wiese when Bangladesh’s total was 94 for the loss of nine wickets.
Apart from Shakib, Liton, Mushfiqur, all Bangladesh batsmen failed to reach double digit figures. Thus Bangladesh tasted a bitter taste in their first match against the Proteas.
JP Duminy, D Wiese, K Rabada bagged a pair of wickets each at the cost of 11, 12 and 28 runs respectively.
KJ Abbott, WD Parnell and AM Phangiso took one wicket each for 10, 12 and 21 runs respectively.
South Africa made a shaky start as they lost their early two wickets for 31 runs.
Opener AB de Villiers was caught at the cover by Mashrafe Bin Mortaza off Arafat Sunny for just two runs.
After dismissal of Villiers, Q de Kock was caught at the cover by Liton Das off Nasir Hossain when the tourists’ total was 31 for the loss of two wickets.
After departure of Kock, F du Plessis and JP Duminy added together 46 runs in the third wicket stand before JP was caught at the deep mid-wicket by Nasir Hossain off Arafat Sunny for 18 when the Proteas’ score was 77 for the loss of three wickets.
Then DA Miller was trapped leg before wicket by Shakib Al Hasan when the tourists’ total was 90 for the loss of four wickets.
After removal of DA Miller, F du Plessis and RR Rossouw contributed 58 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket partnership.
Plassis remained unbeaten with 79. His 61-ball superb innings was laced with eight fours. Plessis was adjudged the Man of the Match for his outstanding performance.
RR Rossouw remained unbeaten with 31. His 21-ball innings was ornamented with two fours and two sixes.
Arafat Sunny claimed two wickets instead of 19 runs while Shakib Al Hasan and Nasir Hossain got one wicket each conceding 24 and 37 runs respectively.
Tomorrow (Tuesday) Bangladesh will face South Africa in the second and final Twenty20 International match at the same venue. The match begins at 1.00 pm.
