Loubser, Lee power South Africa home

South Africa Women 153 for 4 (Lee 77, Tul Kubra 3-43) beat Bangladesh Women 149 for 8 (Hoque 63, Loubser 3-28) by six wickets
Scorecard

An incisive spell of 3 for 28 from offspinner Sunette Loubser, followed by a patient fifty from opener Lizelle Lee powered South Africa Women to a six-wicket win over Bangladesh Women in Benoni.

Loubser took the middle-order wickets of Salma Khatun, Nuzhat Tasnia and Shaila Sharmin during a five-over period that cost only eight runs, to restrict Bangladesh to 149 for 8 in 50 overs. Chasing a low score, Lee hit seven fours during her 130-ball 77, and added 80 for the opening wicket with Trisha Chetty, who made 39, to all but secure the win for the hosts.

South Africa, after choosing to bowl, were comfortable throughout the game, and a 108-ball 63 from Fargana Hoque did little to change Bangladesh's fortunes. They had been put on the back foot in the 11th over, when Ayasha Rahman was run out for 13.

Hogue aside, none of the other Bangladesh batters could produce big scores, as tight bowling from South Africa kept the run-rate under three an over to set up an easy chase.

Offspinner Khadija Tul Kubra took three wickets for Bangladesh, including that of Lee, but couldn't prevent defeat, as Alexis le Breton and Dane van Niekerk took South Africa home with 12.1 overs remaining.

South Africa captain Mignon du Preez praised the opening pair of Lee and Chetty, who had laid the platform for the victory. "I'm really proud of the way Lizelle batted today," she said. "It was quite difficult batting upfront and she and Trisha set us up for the target with a good opening partnership. She structured her innings really well and adapted with ease to the conditions. The rest of the batters in the order also chipped in."

The teams will play the second ODI at the Wanderers on Sunday.