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Bangladesh women thrashed South Africa by 119 runs to clinch their first-ever ODI win on South African soil in the opener of a three-match series at Buffalo Park in East London on Saturday.

An excellent and composed innings of 91 not out from left-hander Murshida Khatun saw Bangladesh post a formidable total of 250-3 after being asked to bat first.

Openers Shamima Sultana and Fargana Pinky Hoque set a strong foundation with a 66-run opening partnership in the initial 15 overs.

Shamima scored 34 runs off 48 balls, including five fours, before being caught by keeper Sinalo Jafta off debutant Eliz-Mari Marx.

Fargana contributed 35 runs from 76 balls (3x4) but was caught at mid-on by Marx after a miscued drive against off-spinner Delmi Tucker.

Captain Nigar Sultana Joty scored 38 runs and added 80 runs with Murshida.

Murshida played a relentless innings, scoring 12 fours in her 100-ball innings, while Shorna Akter, a 16-year-old, finished with an unbeaten 27 runs from 28 deliveries, forming an unbroken 60-run partnership with Murshida for the fourth wicket.

The total set by Bangladesh is their highest in an ODI.

During the chase, Sune Luus scored a modest 31 from 38 balls but the rest of the top-order had no answer to Bangladesh’s trio of spinners of whom left-armer Nahida Akter was outstanding with 2-33.

Leg-spinners Rabeya Khan and Fahima Khatun claimed 2-24 and 2-16 respectively, while off-spinner Sultana Khatun picked up 1-32 against South Africa’s batters who had no answer to their turning ball.

Eliz-mari Marx scored highest 35 for the Proteas.

The T20 International series preceding this ODI was shared 1-1 between the two teams.

Bangladesh won the first game by 13 runs, and South Africa won the third match by eight wickets after a washout in Kimberley.