South Africa boost T20 WC semi-final hopes with Bangladesh win
Dubai, UAE, AFP: South Africa cruised to a 7-wicket win over Bangladesh to edge closer to the Women’s T20 World Cup semi-finals on Saturday although their tournament destiny lies in the hands of England and West Indies.
After limiting Bangladesh to just 106-3 in 20 overs, South Africa reached their target with 16 balls to spare. With three wins and one defeat, they sit top of Group B with six points.
However, 2009 champions England, with two wins so far and with two games still to play, are likely to secure one of the semi-final spots. That would leave South Africa and West Indies vying for the last place.
West Indies, the 2016 champions, have four points but a better net run-rate than South Africa although the Caribbean side have to face England in their concluding pool game on Tuesday.
Player of the match Tazmin Brits steered 2023 runners-up South Africa to victory on Saturday with a steady 42 off 41 balls, an innings which featured five fours. Anneke Bosch made a run-a-ball 25 before Marizanne Kapp (13 not out) and Chloe Tryon (14 not out) saw their side home.
“The way we started with the ball was amazing. Would have loved to chase it down faster and that was a message that went out, but we didn’t get there,” said South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt who bemoaned her side conceding 13 extras when Bangladesh batted.
Bangladesh had won the toss and chose to bat but lost opener Dilara Akter off the second ball for nought. The Asian side struggled to make any headway against the South African attack. Sobhana Mostary top-scored but her 38 took 43 balls with skipper Nigar Sultana making an undefeated 32 from 38 deliveries.
Kapp claimed 1-10 from her four overs of medium pace while Nonkululeko Mlaba finished with 1-11. Off-break bowler Mlaba has enjoyed an impressive tournament with the ball and has nine wickets from four games, making her the leading wicket-taker.
“There’s a lot of intent and emotion there,” said Bangladesh captain Sultana after a tournament which brought them just one victory — an opening day win against Scotland.
“In this kind of tournament you have to be mentally strong. A lot of people came to support us, and it felt like we were at home. Although we couldn’t do well, there was unconditional love.”
| SCORECARD | |
| Bangladesh Dilara Akter c Jafta b Kapp 00 Shathi Rani c Bosch b Dercksen 19 Sobhana Mostary b Mlaba 38 Nigar Sultana not out 32 Shorna Akter not out 04 Extras (lb2, w11) 13 Total (3 wickets; 20 overs) 106 Did not bat: Murshida Khatun, Ritu Moni, Fahima Khatun, Rabeya Khan, Nahida Akter, Marufa Akter Fall of wickets: 1-0 (D. Akter, 0.2ov), 2-36 (Rani, 7.5ov), 3-81 (Mostary, 17.1ov) Bowling: Marizanne Kapp 4-0-10-1, Ayabonga Khaka 4-1-24-0, Nadine de Klerk 3-0-29-0, Annerie Dercksen 1-0-7-1, Chloe Tryon 3-0-19-0, Nonkululeko Mlaba 4-0-11-1, Sune Luus 1-0-4-0 South Africa Laura Wolvaardt st Sultana b Khatun 07 Tazmin Brits b Moni 42 Anneke Bosch c N. Akter b Khatun 25 Marizanne Kapp not out 13 Chloe Tryon not out 14 Extras (b3, lb1, w2) 06 Total (3 wickets; 17.2 overs) 107 Did not bat: Sune Luus, Annerie Dercksen, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka Fall of wickets: 1-23 (Wolvaardt, 2.6ov), 2-76 (Bosch, 11.6ov), 3-81 (Brits, 13.2ov) Bowling: Marufa Akter 1-0-7-0, Nahida Akter 4-0-23-0, Fahima Khatun 4-0-19-2, Rabeya Khan 3.2-0-23-0, Ritu Moni 3-0-22-1, Shorna Akter 2-0-9-0 |