Bangladesh were left heartbroken as South Africa snatched a thrilling three-wicket win over them at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam in the ICC Women鈥檚 World Cup on Monday.听
Shorna Akter鈥檚 blazing 51 off 35 helped Bangladesh post 232-6 in 50 overs. South Africa reached 235-7 with three balls remaining as Nadine de Klerk, South Africa鈥檚 hero from the previous match against India, stood tall again.听
She finished things off with a six off Nahida Akter after hitting a four in the first ball of the last over, after South Africa needed eight from the last six. De Klerk remained unbeaten on 37 off 29 balls.听
It was Nahida who had Tazmin Brits caught and bowled in her first ball before captain Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch rebuilt with a 55-run partnership for the second wicket.听
However, a terrible mix-up between those two resulted in Wolvaardt鈥檚 (31 off 56) run-out, and that brought an opening for Bangladesh. South Africa lost four wickets for just 20 runs during that phase.听
Bosch was caught at mid-off off Ritu Moni, while Annerie Dercksen and Sinalo Jafta were bowled by Rabeya Khan and Fahima Khatun, respectively.听
However, Marizanne Kapp and Chloe Tryon soaked up the pressure in their 85-run partnership off 109 balls.
Captain Nigar Sultana Joty had to cover up Marufa Akter鈥檚 remaining six overs, as she gave away 27 off four overs, but the duo were cautious nonetheless.听
Nahida broke the partnership when Kapp was caught at long-off after scoring 56 off 71, which gave Bangladesh another rope to break the game open.听
But a couple of missed chances hurt them badly. Joty missed a tough chance off Ritu when Tryon was on 40. She then got a real reprieve at 50 when substitute Sumaiya Akter completely misjudged a chance at deep midwicket.听
Bangladesh, however, were third time lucky when they got Tryon on 62, as she was run out after a direct hit from Ritu Moni at backward point. South Africa still needed 35 off 31 balls.听
But Bangladesh continued to fumble in the field, which eventually proved costly. A couple of run-out chances went begging, while Shorna, Bangladesh鈥檚 hero of the first innings, dropped a sitter at long-off in the penultimate over.听
Bangladesh, after opting to bat first, showed little intent at the beginning, as the first 10 overs yielded just 28 runs, where only three boundaries were hit.听
Farzana Haque and Rubya Haider were cautious in their 53-run opening partnership off 97 balls before the latter fell for 25 off 52 while miscuing a slog sweep off Chloe Tryon.听
Farzana, after making 30 off 76, was trapped lbw off Nonkululeko Mlaba after adding 20 runs with Sharmin Akter Supta.听
Supta and Joty tried to accelerate but couldn鈥檛 find the rhythm. However, their partnership of 77 runs from 91 balls ensured that the later batters could have a go at the death.听
Both fell in quick succession as Joty was caught at cover by her counterpart Laura Wolvaardt off Mlaba after making 32 off 42, while Supta was run out soon after reaching her fifty in 74 balls.听
Shorna started by sweeping Mlaba for a four and soon hit the first six of Bangladesh innings鈥攕econd for them in the tournament鈥攐ff Tryon.听
Sharna then took on pacer Tumi Sekhukhune as she went six, four, four in the 46th over. The 18-year-old reached her fifty in just 34 balls, the fastest for Bangladesh in women鈥檚 ODIs.听
She added 37 runs off just 18 balls with Ritu Moni before adding 31 off 25 with Sobhana Mostary.听
Ritu contributed 19 off eight while hitting three fours as Bangladesh managed 82 runs in the final 10 overs.听
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