DHAKA, March 18, 2022 (BSS) — An indomitable Bangladesh posted a mammoth

314-7 in the first ODI of three-match series against South Africa at Super Sports Park Centurion today.

It was comfortably their highest total in an ODI in the South African soil and only the second 300 plus total here. Earlier in a Test in 2017, they posted 320 runs.

This was also their second consecutive 300 plus total against the Proteas with the previous coming in the last encounter between the two sides in 2019 World Cup in which Bangladesh won by 21 runs.

Shakib Al Hasan who led the side’s victory in the last time against South Africa stood tall again, having struck a superb 64 ball-77, with seven fours and three sixes. In the process, he brought up his 50th half-century in ODI cricket.

Opener Liton Das and Yasir Ali Chowdhury scored identical 50 to complement Shakib’s knock. Skipper Tamim Iqbal was the other notable scorer with 41.

Liton and Tamim gave the side a steady start, after Bangladesh were sent to bat first. They shared 95-run in 21.3 overs, which was not a fluent start at all but their steady presence gave Shakib a platform to slice the South African bowling.
 
South Africa kept it tight till 29th over, as Bangladesh were 124-3.
Shakib and Yasir then changed the momentum with free flowing batting as they added 115-run off just 83 balls.

Shakib appeared to head towards his century but Lungi Ngidi trapped him lbw to break the partnership.

Yasir then brought up his first ODI fifty with 43 balls and was dismissed in the immediate next delivery.

Mahmudullah Riyad (25), Afif Hossain (17) and Mehidy Hasan (19*) then batted fluently to help Bangladesh propel past 300 runs mark.

Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj took two wickets for South Africa.