Kimberley: Quinton de Kock (168 n o, 145b, 21×4, 2×6) and Hashim Amla (110 n o, 112b, 8×4) shared a record partnership as South Africa cruised to a ‘ruthless’ 10-wicket win in the first ODI against Bangladesh at the Diamond Oval here, Sunday night.
De Kock and Amla put on an unbeaten 282 runs opening partnership to overhaul Bangladesh’s 278 for seven with 7.1 overs to spare. Their partnership was the highest for any wicket for South Africa and the joint sixth highest in all ODIs.
The South African openers overshadowed the feat of Mushfiqur Rahim (110 n o, 116b, 11×4, 2×6) whose effort was the first century by a Bangladesh batsman against the Proteas in any international match. It was also Bangladesh’s highest total in ODIs against South Africa but it came to no avail.
Mushfiqur’s innings came with a price. He appeared to suffer a hamstring injury and he watched the De Kock-Amla partnership from the players’ balcony, adding to injuries which kept two other key players, Tamim Iqbal (thigh) and Mustafizur Rahman (ankle) out of the match.
“We have to keep fighting,” said Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza about the injuries. “These things happen in cricket. You can’t blame anything.”
South African captain Faf du Plessis praised what he described as another ‘dominating’ performance.
“As a team you want to be ruthless. “Today was a very, very good example of that. When you’re bossing the game and you are 150 for no wicket it’s easy to throw wickets away. But the guys showed their massive hunger for runs,” Du Plessis said.
Mushfiqur’s fifth ODI century was greeted with rapturous applause by hundreds of Bangladeshi supporters. He shared successive partnerships of 59 with Shakib Al Hasan (29), 69 with Mahmudullah (26) and 42 with Sabbir Rahman (19) for the third, fourth and fifth wickets.
Shakib made a quiet return after resting during a two-match Test series in which Bangladesh were heavily defeated. He made 29 and conceded 48 runs in eight overs. But in the process he became only the fifth player to complete the one-day international ‘double’ of 5000 runs and 200 wickets.
Kagiso Rabada (4/43) like he did in the Test series spearheaded South Africa’s bowling attack. He was well-supported by Dwaine Pretorius (2/43).
When South Africa batted, none of the Bangla bowlers could really trouble De Kock and Amla. Both rotated the strike at will and put away the loose deliveries with consummate ease.
Brief scores: Bangladesh 278 for 7 (Mushfiqur Rahim 110 n o, Kagiso Rabada 4/43) lost to South Africa 282 without loss (Quniton de Kock 168 n o, Hashim Amla 110 n o) by 10 wickets.
agence france-presse
