Bangladesh 160 all out, South Africa 164/2

South Africa defeated Bangladesh comfortably by eight wickets in the opening ODI of the 3-match at Mirpur today.

Kagiso Rabada was the star-performer with the best bowling figures on debut in one-day international history.

Rabada captured six wickets for 16 runs in only eight overs with a splendid hat-trick to his name.

After restricting Tigers to only 160 on the back of an inspired performance from the debutant, Proteas reached their target with 53 balls to spare.

The unbeaten 99-run partnership between Faf du Plessis and Rilee Rossouw took their team to victory without any hassle.

Faf was not out on 63 from 75 balls (seven 4s) and Rossouw 45 from 53 balls (five 4s, 1 6s).

Nasir Hossain and Mashrafe Mortaza captured a single wicket each.

Faf du Plessis brought up his fifty from 64 balls with five hits across the fence.

After the fall of de Kock, Rilee Rossouw and Faf du Plessis steadied the chase with sensible stroke-play to take their team home.

Nasir Hossain stopped the de Kock- du Plessis stand at 43 when he sent back the Proteas wicketkeeper for 35 runs.

Quinton was looking dangerous for a big score, but drove a wide delivery from the Tigers’ allrounder straight to Sabbir at cover. He faced 41 balls and smashed five fours.

Captain Mashrafe Mortaza gave the first breakthrough for Tigers when he sent back Amla for 14 runs against the run of play.

Amla shuffled across towards off and exposed his stumps, clipped the ball late from off but straight to Mahmudullah at short fine leg.

Chasing a smallish total, Proteas openers Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock look to take the attack to the opposing bowlers to set the tone of their innings.

Earlier, Nasir Hossain’s last ditch effort to give some respectability to Bangladesh’s total was brought to an end by Morris when the Proteas pacer dismissed him for 31 runs.

Tigers’ allrounder shuffled across the stumps, went down on one knee to scoop the ball over short fine leg but missed it completely to see his furniture disturbed.

Nasir faced 44 balls, struck three fours and a massive six during his stay at the wicket.

Jubair Hossain was the ninth man to fall for Tigers, and became Rabada’s sixth victim of the match.

Rabada achieved the best bowling figures on debut with 6 for 16 with Jubair’s dismissal.

South Africa’s Rabada picked up his fifth wicket of the match when he had Tigers skipper Mashrafe caught down the leg-side for 4 runs.

Bangladesh’s hope of a challenging total was dashed when Shakib, the mainstay of the innings was dismissed by Imran Tahir for 48.

Shakib was leg-before-wicket to the Proteas leg-spinner. He faced 51 deliveries and struck five boundaries in his innings.

Sabbir Rahman’s uncomfortable stay at the crease was ended by Chris Morris when the batsman was bowled all ends up.Sabbir managed only 5 runs from 13 balls.

After reaching his 15th 50-run stand in ODI cricket with Shakib, Mushfiqur made a fatal error of judgment and was dismissed for 24 by JP Duminy.

Mushfiqur faced 38 balls and struck a boundary in his knock.

With Tigers tottering at 40/4, Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim began repairing the innings with sensible batting.

Both of them kept the scoreboard ticking with ones and twos while dispatching the occasional loose delivery to the fence.

Soumya Sarkar’s entertaining cameo was cut short by the red-hot Rabada when the batsmen fell trying to up the ante.

Soumya scored 27 runs from 27 balls with four boundaries to the delight of the home crowd.

Rabada’s hat-trick was completed when he struck Mahmudullah in front of the leg-stump and sent Tigers reeling early in this match

Rabada was on a hat-trick when sent back Litton Das the next ball when the batsman found Behardien at midwicket for an easy catch.

Tamim went for a 13-ball duck when he was bowled neck and croft by the debutant Kagiso Rabada.

Tigers captain Mashrafe Mortaza won the toss and decided to bat in the rain-shortened opening game against the Proteas.

Bangladesh Squad

Mashrafe Mortaza (Captain), Shakib Al Hasan, Anamul Haque, Arafat Sunny, Jubair Hossain, Litton Das (Wicketkeper), Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim (Wicketkeeper), Mustafizur Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Soumya Sarkar and Tamim Iqbal

South Africa Squad

HM Amla (Captain), KJ Abbott, F Behardien, Q de Kock (Wicketkeeper), JP Duminy, F du Plessis, Imran Tahir, R McLaren, DA Miller, M Morkel, CH Morris, WD Parnell, AM Phangiso, K Rabada and RR Rossouw