South Africa overcome Bangladesh for winning start to World Cup campaign

Bangladesh impressed on their 50-over World Cup debut but could not back up their bowling performance with the runs to claim a famous win

Dunedin: South Africa 207, Bangladesh 175 - South Africa win by 32 runs

Bangladesh gave an excellent account of themselves on their 50-over World Cup debut, offering a significant scare to South Africa before ultimately falling short of a famous victory.

The Proteas, much-fancied to challenge at this tournament, were bowled out for 207 after being asked to bat first by Nigar Sultana, who saw a South African line-up that was missing both Dane van Niekerk, absent from the competition with a fractured ankle, and Lizelle Lee, whose arrival in New Zealand was delayed by the birth of her first child.

South Africa ultimately made their greater experience count, with Bangladesh unable to remain with the required run rate in their chase as they fell 33 runs shy of a winning start.

Sharmin Akhter top-scored with 34, while Nigar Sultana made 29, with both Shamina Sultana and Ritu Moni hitting 27. None of those, however, could either push on to a more substantial total or score at a sufficiently threatening rate to capitalise on the work of their bowlers.

Ayabonga Khaka claimed four wickets for South Africa, while Masabata Klaas picked up two. Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail took one apiece, with a couple of runouts also working against the Bangladeshi cause.

Earlier, the 50-over newcomers had threatened to cause a surprise. Kapp hit 42 for South Africa and Laura Wolvaardt 41 but they were kept in check by a bowling effort that was led by Fariha Trisna, who picked up Tazmin Brits as the first wicket to fall before returning later on to account for Ismail and Trisha Chetty.

^{Bangladesh impressed in their first 50-over World Cup outing (Sanka Vidanagama/AFP via Getty Images)}

Moni accounted for Wolvaardt, while Salma Khatun was more expensive though ended Lara Goodall's painstaking struggle by having her caught on the reverse sweep.

South Africa were indebted to a 71-run partnership between Kapp and Chloe Tryon for adding impetus through the middle overs, having been 119 for 5 when Tryon strode to the crease in the 34th over. Both scored at almost a run a ball until Jahanara Alam claimed both their wickets at the death, by which time they had formed a stand that would go a long way to clinching an opening win for Sune Luus' team.