In a tense chase against Bangladesh in both sides' first international at Lord's, South Africa managed to stay in the running for the semi-final. Sharmin Akhter and Sobhana Mostary's 56-run partnership saved Bangladesh from being 14 for 2 early on when they decided to bat under overcast conditions at the game's most famous location. Bangladesh reached 117 for 5 thanks to Nigar Sultana's 20-ball 32 not out, which should have been easily chased down by South Africa on an excellent batting pitch.
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| With 20 balls, Nigar Sultana scored 32 not out |
The must-win game proved to be South Africa's worst enemy. They lost Laura Wolvaardt's opening ball, and Bangladesh brought them back each time they had an advantage. South Africa only managed to reach the mark with four balls remaining, and Bangladesh was in it the entire time thanks to a fantastic fielding display in which they took every catch that was made available to them.
As Australia plays India in the afternoon match, South Africa will now have to wait anxiously. South Africa will advance if Australia wins, but India will advance if Australia loses.
Kapp and Ismail take command
Marizanne Kapp struck with the first ball of the contest at the scene of her spectacular 4 for 9 in the first-ever Hundred final in 2021. A fuller ball was pushed through as Juairiya Ferdous took a swing, only to hear her off stump clatter. Kapp finished with figures of 1 for 9 off four overs thanks to his superb economy of just 2.25.
Kapp gave up just two runs off the third over to contain Bangladesh, but Shabnim Ismail scored a first over in the next over. With the wicket of Taj Nehar, who was hit on the front pad by a ball that jagged back in from just behind a length, Ismail further hindered them. Nehar's laborious innings for just 1 off 12 balls was ended by the umpire's decision to reject her appeal to the DRS because the ball tracking indicated impact in line with the top of off.
Mostary and Sharmin dig in
Bangladesh was 23 for 2 at the end of the powerplay, but Sharmin and Sobhana put up some resistance with a tenacious, if hesitant, combination of 56 in 62 balls. By the end of the seventh over, Kapp had been bowled out, so Wolvaardt changed up her attack. Nadine de Klerk, for example, had a short ball hit for six over deep square leg by Sobhana.
Nonkululeko Mlaba didn't make a breakthrough until the beginning of the fifteenth over. He tossed one up outside leg stump as Sharmin moved forward, but the turn beat him as the ball crashed into the top of the middle and off stumps. Mostary skied a de Klerk short ball high and straight to the short third man after facing 48 balls for her 42. The skipper, Sultana, attempted to increase the score with an undefeated 32 off 20 deliveries, but she was the only Bangladeshi batter to move at a respectable T20 rate.
South Africa tests their resilience once more
Throughout the competition, Wolvaardt has not appeared to be her typical free-flowing self, and she was not even allowed to try to find form during this innings. South Africa were left 0 for 1 after one ball and without their finest batsman as Marufa Akter's swerving first delivery curved into the bat-pad gap and removed Wolvaardt's off stump. Annerie Dercksen, a fresh No. 3, and Tazmin Brits, who appeared to be suffering from a glute strain, were left to maintain the innings and pursue a modest target.
After they lost eight wickets in the pursuit of 126, memories of the Pakistan match must have been vivid, but the mastermind of that innings was also present today. Dercksen's first boundary was an inside-edged four, but she quickly found her touch when she hit Sanjida Akter Meghla for six over cow corner while on one knee. The true test came when Dane van Niekerk and Brits, with whom she enjoyed a 57-run second-wicket partnership, were removed in consecutive overs. At the midway point, South Africa was 59 for 3 and required an additional 59 runs in the following ten overs. After batting for four more overs and putting South Africa within 31 runs of victory, Dercksen gave way to Kapp.
Bangladesh squeezes to the very end
Bangladesh did not give up a boundary for eighteen deliveries following Dercksen's dismissal, and pressure on South Africa intensified. By sending Nahida Akter through the covers for four and lowering the necessary run rate to less than a run per ball, De Klerk released the chains. However, South Africa's relief was fleeting. De Klerk wanted a single after hitting the following ball to point, but Kapp hesitated, and by the time she recognised she had to leave, it was too late. Kapp was short of her ground as Sharmin swooped in and hurled to the keeper's end.
Bangladesh benefits, while India is in the background.
When she crossed the stumps and hit Nahida over square leg for four, De Klerk got it back. Ten runs in two overs were required by South Africa. They didn't need to do anything spectacular to get five off the first four balls, but de Klerk attempted to finish in style by hitting a slower ball from Ritu Moni high to deep midwicket, where Shorna Akter made a fantastic catch. With two balls into the final over, South Africa completed the match after needing five out of the remaining five.
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