South Africa beat visiting Bangladesh by 20 runs in the 1st T20I of the two-match series at Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on Thursday night.
Chasing a tough-total of 196 runs, Shakib Al Hasan-led Bangladesh played out stipulated overs to finish on 175 for 9 with Soumya Sarkar top-scoring 47 and number 7 batsman Mohammad Saifuddin unbeaten 39 runs.
Bangladesh started with a bit good note as their opening pair between Soumya and Imrul Kayes contributed 43 in just 3.5 overs, reports UNB.
Soumya was maintaining the innings-tune before being trapped lbw by Andile Phehlukwayo on 92/3 in 9.1 overs after having companies of 3.1 overs by Shakib and 2.1 overs by Mushfiqur Rahim in the 2nd and 3rd wicket stands.
Soumya faced 31 balls to fire five boundaries and two sixes, and left the crease after a successful review appeal of lbw by South Africa, the side challenged a not out call of umpire Adrian Holdstock.
After the departure of Soumya, the Tigers were losing their wickets in regular interval but Saifuddin hold his nerve till the end facing 27 balls with three boundaries and one over boundaries.
Sabbir Rahman fired two over boundaries for 16-balls 19 while with a boundary, Mehedi Hasan Miraz added 14 off 8 balls.
Shakib and Mushfiq added 13-run each while Imrul Kayes collected 10 runs to be another double digit scorer for the side.
Andile Phehlukwayo (2/25), David Paterson (2/29), Robbie Frylinck (2/33), Beuran Hendricks (2/42) and Aaron Phangiso (1/30) successfully handled the bowling department of South Africa to maintain the all-win record in T20Is against Bangladesh, including this 5th victory.
Batting first after winning the toss, South Africa scored 195 for 4 in 20 overs riding on the 2nd pair stand of 79 off 8 overs between the opener Quinton de Kock and man-of-the-match AB de Villiers.
De Kock stayed for a half century off 44-balls 59, including five boundaries, while De Villiers was out for a quick 27-ball 49 with eight boundaries.
David Miller (36* off 17b; 2x4; 2x6) and Farhaan Behardien (25* off 19b; 1x4) were on unbeaten sharing 62 off 5 overs, starting after the departure of De Kock on 133/4 in 15 overs, while skipper JP Duminy (13 off 10b) was another double digit scorer for the side.
Bangladesh's young all-rounder Mehedi Hasan Miraz bowled out Hashim Amla for the Tigers 1st breakthrough in innings 2nd over when Proteas collected only 18 runs before Miraz again roared with his spin bowling in the 10th over to depart De Villiers, was caught by Mahmudullah Riyad, from 2nd pair that ended on 97/2.
Miraz conceded 31 runs for two wickets in four overs while skipper Shakib Al Hasan got JP Duminy, who was caught by Imrul Kayes on 122/3 in 12.5 overs, conceding 28 runs in three overs. Pace bowler Rubel Hossain found De Kock for 34 runs in four overs.
Bangladesh complete their five-week tour with a second T20I in Potchefstroom on Sunday, starting at 6:30pm Bangladesh time. They were comprehensively beaten in two tests and hammered by South Africa in the three one-day internationals.
