DHAKA: Skipper Faf du Plessis scored an unbeaten half century to set up a crushing 52-run win for South Africa over Bangladesh in the first Twenty20 international in Dhaka on Sunday.

Du Plessis helped the visitors recover from a shaky start with an unbeaten 79 off 61 balls, as they posted 148-4 in 20 overs. Off-spinner JP Duminy (2-11), medium pacer David Wiese (2-12) and fast bowler Kagiso Rabada (2-28) then put in a combined effort to dismiss Bangladesh for 96 runs.

Shakib Al Hasan was the only batsman to offer some kind of resistance with 26 off 30 balls while debutante Litton Das made 22 off 33 balls.

Earlier, opting to bat first, South Africa struggled to keep the scoreboard rolling. Bangladesh started with spinners from both ends and struck almost immediately with left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny dismissing AB de Villiers (two) in the first over. Quinton de Kock (12) tried to break the shackle with a six off Nasir over cover but soon gave a catch to Das off the same bowler at point.

Sunny returned for his second spell to break a 46-run third wicket partnership between du Plessis and Duminy (18) as Nasir took a well-judged catch to dismiss the latter. Shakib trapped David Miller leg-before for one but du Plessis added 58 in an unbroken fifth wicket stand with Rilee Rossouw (31 not out) to take South Africa to a respectable total.