Bangladesh Emerging Women's team made a good start to the three-match T20 series against South African Emerging team by securing a five-wicket victory in the first game at Cox's Bazar Cricket Academy ground on Thursday.
Electing to bat first, South African Women were restricted to a meager 116-6, a total that Bangladesh overhauled by reaching 118-5 in 19.3 overs, albeit a hiccup.
Shorna Akter led the charge with 32 ball-50 not out, an innings laced with five fours and one six.
Bangladesh made a disastrous start with the top four batters departing with single digit figure. Amongst them two batters were out for duck, leaving Bangladesh at precarious 23-4 in 5.2 overs.
Afia Ashima and Farjana Easmin stopped the rot for a while before the former was dismissed for 12 as Bangladesh were reduced to 51-5.
As the defeat stared at the hosts, Shorna took the onus and added 67-run with Farjana for the unbeaten sixth wicket stand to help the side win the game in the last over. Farjana played a second fiddle to Shorna to be unbeaten on 25.
Earlier, Faye Tunnicliffe helped South Africa propel past 100 with 37 ball-43 runs knock. Simmone Lourens made 32 while Luyanda Nzuza chipped-in-with 22.
Habiba Islam took 2-17 in four overs for Bangladesh.
The second match is on Friday at the same venue. Earlier, Bangladesh won the three-match one-day series by 2-1.
