The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match between Bangladesh and South Africa, held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, delivered a thrilling contest. South Africa, led by Tazmin Brits’ pivotal performance, secured a 7-wicket victory over Bangladesh, chasing down a target of 107 with ease.
Bangladesh Innings:
Bangladesh batted first and posted a total of 106/3 in their 20 overs. The top scorer for Bangladesh was Sobhana Mostary, who contributed a steady 38 off 43 balls, hitting four boundaries along the way. Captain Nigar Sultana Joty played a supportive role, remaining unbeaten on 32 off 38 balls. Bangladesh’s innings, though consistent, struggled to accelerate, with wickets falling at key moments.
- Dilara Akter fell early, scoring 0, dismissed by Marizanne Kapp’s sharp catch off Sinalo Jafta.
- Shathi Rani managed 19 from 30 deliveries, hitting one boundary and one six before she was caught by Anneke Bosch.
- Mostary’s knock of 38 was Bangladesh’s backbone, but the lack of big partnerships hurt their progress.
South Africa’s bowlers kept a tight grip on Bangladesh’s batting lineup. Marizanne Kapp, with her exceptional economy of 2.50, and Nonkululeko Mlaba, who took 1/11 in her four overs, were key figures in restricting the flow of runs.
South Africa’s Bowling Overview:
- Marizanne Kapp: 4 overs, 1 wicket, 10 runs, economy 2.50
- Nonkululeko Mlaba: 4 overs, 1 wicket, 11 runs, economy 2.75
- Ayabonga Khaka: 4 overs, 0 wickets, 24 runs, economy 6.00
- Nadine De Klerk: 3 overs, 0 wickets, 29 runs, economy 9.66
South Africa’s disciplined bowling ensured that Bangladesh could not reach a formidable total.
South Africa’s Chase:
In response, South Africa achieved the target of 107 in 17.2 overs, finishing at 107/3. The star of the chase was Tazmin Brits, whose Player-of-the-Match-winning innings of 42 off 41 deliveries, including five boundaries, anchored the chase.
- Laura Wolvaardt, South Africa’s captain, was dismissed early for just 7 runs, falling to Fahima Khatun’s bowling.
- Anneke Bosch contributed with a steady 25 off 25 balls, providing a crucial partnership with Brits.
- Marizanne Kapp added a quickfire 13 off 13 balls, while Chloe Tryon finished unbeaten with 14 runs from 13 deliveries, guiding South Africa to victory.
Despite losing three wickets, South Africa’s batting remained solid throughout, with Brits and Bosch forming a 50+ partnership that took the game away from Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s Bowling Effort:
- Fahima Khatun was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2 wickets for 19 runs in her four overs.
- Rabeya, while economical in her early overs, couldn’t break South Africa’s momentum, ending with figures of 0/23 in 3.2 overs.
South Africa reached 107/3 with 16 balls to spare, marking a comfortable 7-wicket win over Bangladesh.
Key Moments of the Match:
- The early dismissal of Dilara Akter within the first over by South Africa set the tone for Bangladesh’s batting struggles.
- Tazmin Brits’ calm and calculated innings, alongside Anneke Bosch’s steady performance, built a match-winning partnership for South Africa.
- Nonkululeko Mlaba’s tight bowling spell of 4-0-11-1 was crucial in containing Bangladesh’s scoring rate, ensuring they could not set a higher target.
