Lower order bails SA out again in another thrilling win

Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk combined yet again in South Africa's victory as they overcame a spirited bowling performance from Bangladesh to lead their side to a three-wicket win in Vizag. Bangladesh rode on contrasting fifties from Sharmin Akhter and Shorna Akter to post 232 for 6 after choosing to bat. South Africa stuttered early in their chase but half-centuries from Tryon and Marizanne Kapp, and an unbeaten 37 off 29 from de Klerk, took them over the line with three deliveries remaining.

South Africa suffered an early setback in the chase as Tazmin Brits registered her second successive duck after the century against New Zealand, chipping a catch back to Nahida Akter. Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch then put on a half-century stand but the Bangladesh bowlers kept the scoring rate in check, with South Africa only managing 58 in 15 overs. To add to their problems, Wolvaardt, earlier reprieved by Rabeya, was run out and Ritu Moni had Bosch slicing a catch to mid-off as South Africa slipped to 62 for 3.

Things took a turn for the worse as South Africa tumbled to 78 for 5 in the 23rd over. Annerie Dercksen and Sinalo Jafta were both bowled, with Rabeya Khan and Fahima Khatun also getting amongst the wickets. Marizanne Kapp and Chloe Tryon then began the rebuilding job, putting on a brisk half-century stand. Kapp brought up her fifty with a six off Shorna but fell in the next over to Nahida, ending a partnership worth 85. Tryon then went past fifty and added 35 in association with de Klerk.

Tryon got a lucky break when she was dropped at deep midwicket in Rabeya's over, and the resulting boundary helped her reach fifty. She followed it with a six and a four in the same over, which yielded 16 and brought the equation to 37 off the last six overs. Tryon, however, was run out soon after, leaving de Klerk to shoulder the responsibility for the remainder of the innings. Only 5 runs came off the 45th and 46th overs combined but de Klerk struck two fours off Fahima to bring it down to 21 off the last three overs.

Nahida conceded 8 in the 48th and Rabeya gave away only 5 in the penultimate over. But Bangladesh made a costly error as de Klerk was dropped at long-off by Shorna and she went on to hit a four and a six off Nahida to seal a nervy win for South Africa that took them to the third spot on the points table.

Earlier, Bangladesh posted a competitive total, with Shorna Akter's explosive half-century providing the late impetus after a patient batting display through the middle overs. The foundation was laid by opener Sharmin Akhter, who compiled a measured 50 off 77 deliveries. Her innings included six boundaries as she anchored the Bangladesh innings before getting run-out. The early exchanges were cautious, with Bangladesh reaching 53 before losing Rubya Haider for 30. Fargana Hoque contributed a dogged 25 from 52 balls before Mlaba bagged her first wicket, leaving Bangladesh at 73/2 in 25 overs.

Captain Nigar Sultana and Sharmin added 77 off 91 as Bangladesh moved to 150 in 40 overs. The innings threatened to stall at 195 for six in the 47th over, but Shorna had other ideas. The right-hander exploded with a breathtaking 51 not out from 35, striking three boundaries and three sixes as her assault on the South African bowlers transformed Bangladesh's total from a middling to a challenging one. Moni provided able support in an unbroken stand as the pair added 37 runs in 3.2 overs to give Bangladesh's total a late lift.

Brief scores: Bangladesh 232/6 in 50 overs (Shorna Akter 51*, Sharmin Akhter 50; Nonkululeko Mlaba 2-42) lost to South Africa 235/7 in 49.3 overs (Chloe Tryon 62, Marizanne Kapp 56; Nahida Akter 2-44) by 3 wickets.