Women’s T20 World Cup: South Africa hammer Bangladesh to reclaim top spot in Group B
South Africa moved to the top of Group B after a dominant seven-wicket win over Bangladesh in Dubai.
The Proteas limited Nigar Sultana Joty and Co. to 106 for three, with Marizanne Kapp shining with the ball, taking one wicket while conceding just 10 runs in her four overs.
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Tazmin Brits and Anneke Bosch steered their team close to victory with knocks of 42 and 25 respectively, leaving Kapp and Chloe Tryon to finish off the chase and position last year’s runners-up well for another semi-final berth.
Bangladesh chose to bat but lost an early wicket, with Dilara Akter caught behind for a duck off Kapp’s bowling just two balls into the innings. Shathi Rani and Sobhana Mostary began to rebuild, with Rani hitting a few boundaries, including a powerful six. However, Rani was dismissed for 19 shortly after, with Bosch taking a sliding catch.
Sobhana and captain Nigar Sultana then stitched together a 45-run partnership, the Tigresses’ best of the tournament, before Sobhana was bowled out for 38 by Nonkululeko Mlaba, the tournament’s leading wicket-taker. Nigar fought on, finishing unbeaten on 32, helping Bangladesh add 23 runs in the final two overs to set South Africa a target of 107.
South Africa started strongly, hitting a string of early boundaries, but Bangladesh made a breakthrough when Laura Wolvaardt (7) was stumped off Fahima Khatun’s bowling. Bangladesh tightened the screws briefly, allowing only four runs in the next two overs, but Bosch broke the pressure with a crucial boundary in the sixth over.
Bangladesh missed a key opportunity when Brits was dropped in the deep on 21, and the error not only denied them a wicket but also added four runs to South Africa’s total. By then, South Africa was in control, with Brits and Bosch adding a 53-run stand. Bosch was later dismissed by Fahima, followed by Brits falling to Ritu Moni, but the groundwork for victory had been laid.
Kapp and Tryon calmly finished the chase with 16 balls to spare. South Africa now awaits the other results in their group before planning for the knockout stages.