Murshida, Nahida help Bangladesh win first ODI in South Africa

Bangladesh batter Murshida Khatun and left-arm spinner Nahida Akter starred as the Tigresses thumped South Africa by 119 runs in the first of the three-match ODI series at the Buffalo Park in East London on Sunday.

The win gave the Tigresses their first-ever ODI win in South Africa in nine matches. This is the visitors' third win in the 50-over format against South Africa, with the other two coming at home in 2012 and 2017.  

Murshida scored an unbeaten 100-ball 91 laced with 12 fours to propel Bangladesh to their highest-ever ODI total of 250 for three, and Nahida returned three wickets for 33 runs to help bundle out the hosts for 131 in 36.3 overs.

Bangladesh imposed a trial by spin which stifled the hosts as four of their spinners --Sultana Khatun (2), Rabeya Khan (2), Fahim Khatun (2) and Nahida -- were responsible for the fall of nine wickets, while frontline pacer Marufa Akter scalped one. 

Earlier, Bangladesh, who were put into bat first, posted their highest-ever ODI total, surpassing their previous best of 234 all out against Pakistan last year. 

Left-hander Murshida notched up her third ODI fifty and also her career-best score in the format as she held her end and kept the score ticking after openers Fargana Haque and Shamima Sultana gave the visitors a solid 66-run stand. 

Shamima's dismissal following a 48-ball 34-run knock in the 15th over brought Murshida to the middle. The left-handed batter motored along and put together a 44-run stand with Fargana, who departed after scoring a 76-ball 35.

An 80-run stand with skipper Nigar Sultana Joty followed which helped to quicken the flow of runs as the right-handed batter scored a 48-ball 38 before giving away a simple chance to the bowler.

Shorna Akter carried on the trend of the batters getting runs and she put away two boundaries for her unbeaten 28-ball 27.