South Africa thrash Bangladesh in Rabada’s dream debut

Kagiso Rabada

DHAKA, (Reuters) – South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada became only the second bowler to claim a hat-trick on his one-day international debut yesterday as they thrashed Bangladesh by eight wickets in the rain-hit first ODI to go 1-0 up in the three-match series.

Kagiso Rabada
Kagiso Rabada

The 20-year-old right-arm paceman claimed 6-16, the best figures for any bowler on his ODI debut, to destroy Bangladesh, who were 160 all out in the 37th over after a rain-delay had reduced the contest to 40 overs a side.

South Africa romped home with nearly nine overs to spare, bringing Bangladesh down to earth after the hosts’ recent ODI series victories at home to Pakistan and India.

For the visitors, Faf du Plessis top-scored with an unbeaten 63 as he and Rilee Rossoew (45 not out) took the team home after Rabada’s scintillating display with the ball.

Armed with pace and accuracy, Rabada conceded two runs in his first over before returning to wreck the hosts who were left to rue their decision to bat first.

He uprooted opener Tamim Iqbal’s off-stump with the fourth delivery of that over before getting Litton Das caught at midwicket and trapping Mahmudullah lbw to complete his hat-trick.

“I did not know what to bowl (when on a hat-trick),” Rabada said after collecting the man-of-the-match award in his fairytale debut.

“Maybe a bouncer, normal length or yorker and I missed it by a mile. It was a bit of fluke but I will take it.”

Bangladesh left-arm spinner Taijul Islam was the first player to claim a hat-trick on his ODI debut at the same Shere Bangla National Stadium late last year against Zimbabwe.

Shakib Al Hasan (48) and Mushfiqur Rahim (24) tried to rebuild the hosts’ innings and Nasir Hossain contributed 31 down the order but Bangladesh could not last their quota of overs.

Rabada went on to claim the wickets of Soumya Sarkar, Mashrafe Mortaza and Jubair Hossain to register the best ODI figures by a South African bowler.

The second match is scheduled for the same venue tomorrow.

Scoreboard

Bangladesh Innings
T. Iqbal b Rabada                                  0
S. Sarkar c Duminy b Rabada                 27
L. Das c Behardien b Rabada                     0
Mahmudullah lbw b Rabada                      0
S. Al Hasan lbw b Tahir                        48
M. Rahim c Tahir b Duminy                   24
Sa. Rahman b Morris                                5
Nas. Hossain b Morris                             31
M. Mortaza c de Kock b Rabada             4
J. Hossain b Rabada                               5
M. Rahman not out                                    0
Extras (lb-5 nb-1 w-10)                            16
Total (all out, 36.3 overs)                   160
Fall of wickets: 1-17 T. Iqbal,2-17 L. Das,3-17 Mahmudullah,4-40 S. Sarkar,5-93 M. Rahim,6-104 Sa. Rahman,7-120 S. Al Hasan,8-133 M. Mortaza,9-140 J. Hossain,10-160 Nas. Hossain Bowling K. Abbott 6 – 0 – 41 – 0(w-5) K. Rabada 8 – 3 – 16 – 6(w-3) C. Morris 6.3 – 0 – 32 – 2(w-1) I. Tahir 8 – 1 – 38 – 1(nb-1 w-1) J. Duminy 8 – 0 – 28 – 1
South Africa Innings
Q. de Kock c Sa. Rahman
b Nas. Hossain                                      35
H. Amla c Mahmudullah b Mortaza       14
F. du Plessis not out                              63
R. Rossouw not out                                45
Extras (lb-6 w-1)                                         7
Total (for 2 wickets, 31.1 overs)         164
Fall of wickets: 1-22
H. Amla,2-65 Q. de Kock Did not bat: D. Miller, J. Duminy, F. Behardien, C. Morris, K. Abbott, K. Rabada, I. Tahir Bowling M. Rahman 6 – 2 – 15 – 0 Nas. Hossain 7 – 1 – 28 – 1 M. Mortaza 6 – 0 – 36 – 1 S. Al Hasan 5 – 1 – 27 – 0(w-1) J. Hossain 5 – 0 – 31 – 0 Mahmudullah 2 – 0 – 17 – 0 Sa. Rahman 0.1 – 0 – 4 – 0 Referees Umpire: Michael Gough Umpire: Sharfuddoula TV umpire: Richard Illingworth Match referee: David Boon Result: South Africa won by 8 wickets