Faye Tunnicliffe's composed 89 spoiled Bangladesh emerging women's hopes of a winning start as their South African counterparts recovered from early trouble to claim a five-wicket victory in the first of three one-dayers in Chattogram on Tuesday.

Asked to bat first, Sumaiya Akter made a highest 52 off 73 balls, while skipper Sharmin Sultana and Ishma Tanjim scored 34 and 29 runs, respectively, but a lack of contributions from the other batters saw the Bangladeshi side bowled out for 179 runs in 47.5 overs at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium.

For South Africa, leg-spinner Delmari Tucker claimed 3-32, while the other two spinners, Luyanda Elihle Nzuza and Ghandi Papama Hlumela Jafta, took two wickets each.

In reply, Bangladesh bowlers led by Fariha Trisna (2-32) and Shorna Akter (2-37) hit back strongly by taking early wickets and limited the visitors to 84-5 in the 26th over, making the hosts optimistic about taking a 1-0 lead in the series.

However, Tunnicliffe -- eventual Player of the Match -- struck an unbeaten 89 off 118 balls while Eliz Mari Marx also made 50 not out, as the pair shared an unbroken stand of 96 runs for the sixth wicket to steer the visitors to victory with 25 balls to spare.

The second match of the series will take place at the same venue on Thursday.