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South Africa enter Women's T20 World Cup semi-finals after steamrolling Bangladesh

Last Updated: March 11, 2023 | India, Delhi
South Africa enter Women's T20 World Cup semi-finals after steamrolling Bangladesh

South Africa defeated Bangladesh at Newlands by a margin of 10 wickets to go to the semi-finals of their domestic ICC Women's T20 World Cup. Bangladesh set a modest aim of 114, and the Proteas struggled mightily to catch up thanks to their superb skipper Nigar Sultana Joty's 30. But, they were able to chase it down with only 13 balls remaining thanks to Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits, who carved out their team's first half-centuries of the competition at crucial moments. The group led by Sune Luus is the first from South Africa to go to the last four of an ICC competition held there, regardless of gender, age, or seniority. In the Friday semi-final in Cape Town, they take on a formidable and undefeated England squad. When Bangladesh decided to bat, Wolvaardt flied out.a legitimate opportunity in the second over to allude to that home-ground pressure, and Shamima Sultana further aggravated the situation with a four and two balls later. With Murshida Khatun chipping Marizanne Kapp to mid-on for a six-ball duck and Shamima then skying Shabnim Ismail to midwicket, the Proteas still managed to score twice in the powerplay. Nigar Sultana Joty and Sobhana Mostary painstakingly constructed and rotated from 22 to 2, striking the border neatly without over-peppering it.

The third-wicket partnership was broken at 33 when Sobhana missed a slog sweep across the line and Nonkululeko Mlaba struck the stumps. Sobhana was dropped by the British on 25. Shorna Akter, a 16-year-old, gave a glimmer of her promise by lofting Mlaba tastefully over mid-off, but she quickly left after being yorked by Ayabonga Khaka at 81 for 4. After returning for a third pitch, Kapp displayed her talent by bowling a slower ball that completely dismissed Nigar for 30 runs. Fargana Hoque was removed by Khaka using the yorker tactic once more, but as the Proteas started to tyre on the field, Bangladesh steadily increased their score to 113 for six.The South African response was tense from the outset. The first four overs produced nine runs, Brits was dropped by Sobhana, and Wolvaardt almost escaped a mix-up in the middle. Wolvaardt smashed a magnificent six over mid-on, but the British team only managed to survive because Shamima failed to stump two opportunities against the spinners as they stumbled to 43 without loss after 10 overs. The much-needed massive overs ultimately materialised as the pressure gradually decreased. Off of Shorna's leg-spin, the British ripped back-to-back boundaries, and Wolvaardt reached her half-century off of 48 deliveries by flaying Nahida Akter twice through the off-side. Two balls after Brits reached her sixth T20I half-century, Wolvaardt hit back-to-back goals to advance her team to the semifinals.

Scores 

South Africa beat Bangladesh at Newlands, Cape Town, by 10 wickets.

Bangladesh 113 for 6 from 20 overs (Nigar Sultana Joty 30, Sobhana Mostary 27; Marizanne Kapp 2/17; Ayabonga Khaka 2/21).

South Africa 117 for none from 17.5 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 66 not out, Tazmin Brits 50 not out; Marufa Akter 0/19, Fahima Khatun 0/22).

Player of the Match: Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa)

 

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