Shakib-Mushfiqur record stand fires Bangladesh to their highest ODI total against South Africa

A century stand between Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim and late cameos by Mahmudullah and Mosaddek Hossain have powered Bangladesh to 330 in their World Cup opener against South Africa.

Mahmudullah finished unbeaten on 46 off 33 having hit Kagiso Rabada for a six in the final over at The Oval on Sunday and ensured their highest One-Day International total.

Mosaddek’s 26 off 20 had four boundaries. He was out in the last ball of the 49th over.

A 142-run stand between Shakib and Mushfiqur, highest partnership for Bangladesh in World Cup, laid the foundation for the big score.

Shakib made 75 off 84 balls, including eight fours and a six, to fire the Tigers past 200. He was subsequently bowled by Imran Tahir in the 36th over with the score at 217.

Mushfiqur also brought up his fifty during the huge third-wicket partnership, and went on to score a run-a-ball 74.

Tahir picked up his second wicket when he bowled Mohammed Mithun for 21 to leave the Tigers at 242 for 4 in the 40th over.

Earlier, Bangladesh breezed past the 100-run mark in 16 overs on the heels of a blistering knock from left-handed opener Soumya Sarkar.

Soumya partnered with Tamim Iqbal to rack up a fifty-run opening stand inside the first 8 overs.

Tamim was the first to fall after a 29-ball 16 with the score at 60 and was followed by Soumya shortly afterwards. He struck nine exquisite boundaries in his innings of 42 off 30 balls before edging a Chris Morris delivery to Quinton de Kock behind the stumps.

But the two quick wickets failed to dampen the Tigers' charge as Shakib and Mushfiqur combined to put up a 75-run unbeaten stand for the third wicket to take Bangladesh to 150 in 24 overs.

Earlier, South Africa won the toss and opted to field first against Bangladesh in their second match of the 50-over World Cup.

Tamim shook off an injury scare to open the innings for the Tigers while Mosaddek , who struck a 23-ball fifty in the tri-series final against the West Indies in Ireland, was brought to provide cover in the spin-bowling department.

South Africa’s gamble of putting Bangladesh into bat and hoping to bounce them out cheaply with their pace attack fell flat on a docile wicket, and was exacerbated by a hamstring injury to opening bowler Lungi Ngidi, who left the field after bowling just four overs.

Bangladesh (Playing XI): Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Mohammad Mithun, Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mashrafe Mortaza(c), Mehidy Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman

South Africa (Playing XI): Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram, Faf du Plessis (c), Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, JP Duminy, Andile Phehlukwayo, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Imran Tahir