Bangladesh could not have asked for a better start to their current campaign as a collective batting effort ensured the Tigers in throwing a challenging target of 315 towards hosts South Africa in the first ODI in Centurion today.
Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan and Yasir Ali Rabbi achieved half-centuries while skipper Tamim Iqbal scored 41 and strung a 95-run partnership with Liton to lay a solid foundation for his side. Despite a few hiccups in the middle, Shakib and Yasir steered the ship with a brilliant century stand to set the stage for a late onslaught. In the end, handy knocks from Mahmudullah Riyad (25), Afif Dhrubo (17), Mehedi Hasan (19) and Taskin Ahmed (7) enabled the Tigers to reach a commanding total of 314 for seven in fifty overs, their highest score in South Africa.
Shakib was exceptional during his 64-ball 77 and proved his class under pressure yet again. The left-hander made use of his bottom hand to a great effect and struck three lusty sixes and seven fours. Shakib’s confidence had eased the early nerves of Yasir, who demonstrated a good array of strokes with two maximums and four boundaries to reach his fifty off 44 deliveries.
South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi both had decent opening spells but went for a beating later in the innings. Both pacers and Andile Phehlukwayo scalped a wicket each while Marco Jansen scalped two alongside Keshav Maharaj, who dismissed the two of the most technically solid Bangladesh batters – Liton and Mushfiqur Rahim.
