Recent Match Report – Bangladesh vs South Africa 1st ODI 2021/22

March 18, 2022

The Shakib-Yasir pair added 115 runs for the fourth wicket, Bangladesh’s highest partnership for any wicket in all formats in the country

Bangladesh 314 for seven (Shakib 77, Yasir 50, Litton 50, Maharaj 2-56) v South Africa

Shakib Al Hasan and Yasir Ali helped Bangladesh put up 314 for 7, their highest total in South Africa, in the first ODI in Centurion. The pair added 115 runs for the fourth wicket, Bangladesh’s highest partnership for any wicket in all formats in the country.

Shakib had been in the news over the last three weeks with his indecision to tour South Africa. He put all that to rest with his 77 off 64 balls, lifting Bangladesh from a modest 124 for three, to take them to a strong position before the lower order took them to their second successive 300-plus total against South Africa in consecutive ODIs. Bangladesh were given the perfect platform by their openers. Tamim Iqbal and Litton Das put up 95 runs, the first time an opening pair added a fifty stand in any format in South Africa.

It all started when Tamim upper-cut a Lungi Ngidi delivery to six in the third over. It signaled what was to come in the match, but the openers were mostly watchful in the first 10 overs. But once they played out that period, both Tamim and Litton opened up. Litton struck Keshav Maharaj over cover for a six, apart from hitting him for three fours in his first two overs.

Shortly after Tamim had lapped him over the short fine-leg fielder, Andile Phehlukwayo trapped him lbw with a short delivery that kept low. Litton departed in the next over, immediately after reaching his fourth 50-plus score in his last five international innings.

South Africa did have an opening when Mushfiqur departed for 9, but that was quickly shut down by a counter-attacking Shakib.

He struck Maharaj down the ground the ball after he removed Mushfiqur, and allowed Yasir to get accustomed to the pace and bounce in his first match in South Africa. The duo dealt in fours and sixes in the middle overs, with Shakib totally hitting three sixes and seven fours. Yasir found his own sweet spot, first hammering Lungi Ngidi flat over square-leg for his first six, before bringing out the no-look flick on Kagiso Rabada for a six over midwicket.

But both Shakib and Yasir got out in the space of three balls. Shakib missed a Ngidi full toss, falling lbw for 77 while Yasir top-edged a pull back to Rabada in the 43rd over. Mahmudullah and Afif Hossain struck a six each, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz struck two in the end to take them past the 300-run mark.

None of the South Africa bowlers really put their mark on the Bangladesh innings. Particularly Ngidi, who went for 75 in his ten overs, the most by a South African bowler against Bangladesh. Maharaj and Jansen took two wickets each but apart from a bit of short bowling, nothing really troubled Bangladesh with the bat.

Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84