The Proteas Women took a significant step towards securing a place in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 semi-finals, following a seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday evening.
In their final Group B match, top-order batter Tazmin Brits delivered a Player of the Match performance, scoring 42 off 41 balls (including five fours). This innings helped her become the tournament’s leading run-scorer and guided her team to chase down Bangladesh’s total of 106/3 successfully.
After losing the toss and being asked to bowl first, South Africa struck early in the first over, with Marizanne Kapp (1/10) finding the edge of Dilara Akter (0) with the second ball of the match. Bangladesh then struggled to 21/0 at the end of the powerplay.
Following a tough opening six overs, Bangladesh’s Sobhana Mostary (38) and Shathi Rani (19) began to accelerate, building a vital 35-run partnership for the second wicket. However, Annerie Dercksen (1/7) broke through, dismissing Rani just as Bangladesh reached 43/2 after 10 overs.
Mostary and captain Nigar Sultana (32*) worked hard to push the score to 67/2 with five overs remaining. However, the third-wicket partnership, which added 45 runs, was broken when Nonkululeko Mlaba (1/11) claimed her ninth wicket of the tournament by dismissing Mostary in the 18th over with the score on 81/3.
A late surge, led by Sultana, saw Bangladesh add 23 runs in the final two overs, lifting their total to 106/3 after 20 overs.
In response, the Proteas Women made a steady start, with openers Laura Wolvaardt (7) and Brits taking the score to 23/0 before Fahima Khatun (2/19) claimed the first breakthrough, with Wolvaardt stumped neatly by Sultana.
By the end of the powerplay, South Africa were 36/1, with Brits and Anneke Bosch (25) nudging the ball around to take their second-wicket partnership to 40 in the 10th over. South Africa then reached 63/1 at the halfway point, needing 44 runs from 60 balls.
The partnership, worth 53 runs, was eventually halted in the 12th over when Khatun took her second wicket, dismissing Bosch. Shortly after, Ritu Moni (1/22) clean-bowled the dangerous Brits, leaving South Africa on 81/3.
With victory in sight, Kapp (13*) and Chloé Tryon (14*) used their experience to guide the Proteas home with 16 balls to spare, reaching the target in 17.2 overs.
South Africa, who currently sit at the top of Group B on six points, must now wait for the remaining group fixtures involving England and the West Indies, to confirm their progress to the semi-finals.
Proteas Women Squad – ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 (United Arab Emirates):
Laura Wolvaardt (Captain) (Fidelity Titans), Anneke Bosch (Fidelity Titans), Tazmin Brits (DP World Lions), Nadine de Klerk (World Sports Betting Western Province), Annerie Dercksen (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Mieke de Ridder (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Ayanda Hlubi (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions), Marizanne Kapp (World Sports Betting Western Province), Ayabonga Khaka (DP World Lions), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Seshnie Naidu (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tumi Sekhukhune (DP World Lions), Chloé Tryon (DP World Lions)
