Series Preview: South Africa Vs Bangladesh ODIs

The Momentum Proteas meet Bangladesh on Friday in the first of the five-match ODI series which starts at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom. Bangladesh hasn't played any cricket as a team since their ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier against Sri Lanka in 2017. Making a return to international cricket after 14 months without competitive action, the Tigers will want to rewrite history by winning an ODI series for the first time against the Proteas.



The Proteas are taking this series seriously as they kept the same team that played against India earlier this year.  The batting and bowling line-ups are at full strength. The hosts are clear favourites. The last ODI series between South Africa and Bangladesh may have been the easiest of walks in the park for the Proteas but this time around they will be looking for some challenge as they prepare for the ICC Women's ODI Championship against England in June and the T20 World Cup in November.



The Bangladesh ODI team led by Rumana Ahmed will be looking to gain experience and make an impact in the series.



 



Key players for the Tigers



The Tigers ODI captain, Rumana Ahmed and Fargana Hoque could provide problems for the Proteas bowling attack. In the warm-up game against North West, they both scored centuries, Ahmed 136*(144) not out and Hoque 102*(143) not out sharing a 266-run partnership between them.



Hoque enjoys batting against the Proteas, she has hit two half-centuries against the hosts and she will be looking to continue her run- feast against them while Fahima Khatun promises to be the spin threat. She was just phenomenal against North West as she took 8/5. Another bowler that could be a problem for South Africa is Khadija Tul Kubra. The off-break spinner has a good record against the hosts, recording two 4-wicket hauls in 2017 against the Proteas.



Shabnim Ismail celebrating a wicket with Dane van Niekerk vs Bangladesh. Picture by the ICC

Key Players for the Proteas



The Proteas captain, Dane van Niekerk and Marizanne Kapp are amongst the world’s best all-rounders, they occupy position 4^th and 5^th respectively in the ICC ODI all-rounders rankings and they will without a doubt give the Tigers a headache. The hard-hitting opening batter, Lizelle Lee is always in beast mode against the visitors, her record against the Tigers is impressive. She has scored 468 in 9 innings at an average of 52 hitting 4 half-centuries.



The experienced Shabnim Ismail will lead the Proteas bowling attack. The proteas all-time leading international wicket-taker will be looking to continue the wicket-taking form that saw her take a 5 and a 4-wicket haul against India in February. The forever reliable, Laura Wolvaardt and experienced Mignon du Preez will be key at the top of the order for the Proteas.



 



Head-To-Head results in the last three series in ODIs



The two sides have met three times in the past few years in 2012, 2013/14 and 2017.



The head to head history is unkind to the visiting team as they have lost 10 out of the 12 encounters against the Proteas.



The Proteas tour of Bangladesh in 2012.



The Proteas came from 1-0 down to win the series 2-1 after the Tigers had won the first ODI match.



Bangladesh tour of South Africa in 2013/14.



The Proteas won the series comfortably, whitewash- 3-0



The Proteas tour of Bangladesh in 2017



The tour ended in another easy series win for the Proteas- 4-1



 



Quotes from both sides



Bangladesh T20 skipper Salma Khatun  is not concerned about her side’s lack of game time in the last 14-months,



"This tour is the start of our busy schedule ahead. We might have taken a step back, given that we have not played any international cricket in the last 14 months, but we were in touch with the game - practising and playing domestic matches. We will improve the more we play,'' said Khatun.



Speaking in an exclusive interview with Women’s CricZone, the Proteas off-spinner Raisibe Ntozakhe said, ‘’The team is in a great space and we are ready for Bangladesh on Thursday, we all have our game faces on for this series all we need to do is to execute.’’



Bangladesh tour of South Africa series schedule



Teams:



South Africa: Dané van Niekerk (c), Lizelle Lee, Chloe Tryon, Mignon du Preez, Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka , Masabata Klaas, Raisibe Ntozakhe, Suné Luus, Laura Wolvaardt, Andrie Steyn, Zintle Mali, Trisha Chetty, Marizanne Kapp



Bangladesh: Rumana Ahmed (c), Salma Khatun, Nigar Sultana Joty, Fargana Hoque Pinky, Khadiza-Tul Kubra, Fahima Khatun, Jannatul Ferdous Sumona, Shamima Sultana, Nahida Akter, Panna Ghosh, Suraya Azmim, Sanjida Islam, Sharmin Sultana, Sobhana Mostary, Murshida Khatun, Jahanara Alam