Shorna Akter Leads Bangladesh Emerging Women to Victory Over South Africa Emerging

Shorna Akter was the standout performer with the bat as Bangladesh Emerging Women secured a five-wicket win over South Africa Emerging Women in the first T20 in Cox's Bazar on Wednesday. The victory gives the hosts a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Shorna lit up the chase with an unbeaten 50 off just 32 balls, peppering the boundary with five fours and a six as Bangladesh hunted down South Africa's total of 116/6. Earlier, the visitors were lifted by in-form opener Faye Tunnicliffe, who top-scored with a composed 43 from 37 deliveries.

South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first, before Bangladesh struck in the second over through Sabikun Jesmin (1/22) to remove Nicole de Klerk (1). 
Nishita Nishi (1/22) then made an immediate impact in the following over, sending Eliz-Mari Marx back without scoring to leave the tourists struggling at 12/2. Tunnicliffe, steady as ever, anchored the innings alongside youngster Simone Lourens (32), stitching together a 44-run stand to revive South Africa's hopes.
That promise was short-lived, though, as a mix-up between the batters led to Lourens being run out. Tunnicliffe soon followed, dismissed by Jesmin for her second wicket of the match.
At 89/4 with fewer than five overs left, South Africa looked to middle-order batter Luyanda Nzuza (22) for some late impetus. However, wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, stifling the visitors' momentum.
Delmi Tucker (11) and Nzuza were the final two to fall, with South Africa finishing their innings on 116/6 from 20 overs.
With the ball, the South Africans made a blistering start as Tucker (1/14) and Marx (2/26) ripped through the Bangladeshi top-order by dismissing Dilara Akter (9), Sarmin Sultana (0) and Misty Shaha (0) within the first three overs of the innings. 
Rubya Haider (8) and Afia Ashima (12) offered a brief period of calm before both fell to South Africa's T20 captain Leah Jones (2/11), leaving Bangladesh in deep trouble at 51/5, still needed 66 runs off 61 balls.
That's when Shorna Akter entered the stage and transformed the match. The internationally capped youngster led a remarkable comeback, forming a match-winning 67-run partnership with Farjana Easmin (25*). The duo's unbeaten stand ensured Bangladesh reached the target with three balls to spare.
The second T20I will take place at the same ground on Friday, 16 May.