SOUTH Africa got off to a winning start yesterday in the Twenty20 triangular series at the Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe with a 39-run victory over Bangladesh.

The "experimental" Proteas side gave a good account of themselves as the coaching staff rested several regular players to assess new blood that could help bolster the side for the England tour next month and the ICC World T20 championship in Sri Lanka in September.

Captain Hashim Amla led his charges to their first win of the competition with a man-of-the-match performance. He hit a career-best international T20 score of 88 not out as SA went on to post a score of 209 with just three wickets down.

Amla was ably assisted in setting the target, which proved to be too high for the Bangladeshis, by hard-hitting batsman Richard Levi (37 off 21 balls), Colin Ingram (29 off 21), Albie Morkel (22 from 18) and a nippy 23 off seven balls by JP Duminy.

"The guys played well," Amla said. "Batting with a guy like Richard [Levi] made things easier for me, and it was a good partnership that set up the team."

The bowling attack, which was frequently rotated, did well to restrict Bangladesh, who looked dangerous while Mohammad Ashraful (33) and later Mohammad Mahmudullah (34) were at the crease. Bangladesh made 170/8.

"The bowlers did a good job, and fortunately we had a big score to defend as well. It was an all-round performance by the team," said Amla.

Today South Africa face Zimbabwe, once again at the Harare Sports Club, at 1pm.