On Sunday, the Bangladesh women’s cricket team added another significant victory to their record in 2023, when they totally outplayed South Africa and won their first-ever ODI on South African territory at Buffalo Park in East London.
Murshida Khatun set the tone for victory with a career-best 91 not out off 100 balls, and the Tigresses’ spin attack, led by Nahida Akter, who took 3-33, propelled them to a 119-run victory.
Murshida’s knock, which included 12 fours, drove Bangladesh to 250-3, their highest-ever ODI total.
Shining through adversity
The hosts were then bowled out for 131 in 26.1 overs thanks to Nahida’s three-for and a couple of blows each from spinners Sultana Khatun, Rabeya Khan, and Fahima Khatun.
This triumph came on the heels of a stalemate in the T20 series against the same opponents.
Before raising the Bangladesh flag in South Africa, Nigar Sultana’s team had defeated Pakistan in ODI and T20 series at home, won a bronze medal at the Asian Games, and drawn an ODI series against India.
Bangladesh got off to a flying start on Sunday, with Fargana Hoque (35) and Shamima Sultana (34) scoring 56 runs in the first powerplay.
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After the first ten overs, the impetus slowed, as the team lost both openers with the score on 110 inside 27 overs.
Murishida, who batted at three, then put on an 80-run partnership with Nigar (38) and an undefeated 60-run stand with Shorna Akter (27 off 28) to propel Bangladesh to their highest-ever total.
South Africa lost two wickets in three overs while chasing 251.
Anneke Bosch (16) and Sune Luus (31) fought back and raised the score to 50.
Nahida subsequently dismissed both batsmen in rapid succession, and Bangladesh had taken control of the match.