LIVE: Wolvaardt, Bosch gone; SA three down in CWC25 clash

Broadcast Details for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup

SOUTH AFRICA v BANGLADESH, SCORECARD

Bangladesh clawed their way back into the contest, reducing South Africa to four down to keep their hopes alive in their ICC Cricket World Cup 2025 clash.

Nahida Akter gave Bangladesh the perfect start against South Africa, striking with her very first delivery to dismiss Tazmin Brits before Nagar Sultana Joty's side claimed three more wickets to keep the pressure on.

Brits fell in the second over, offering a simple return catch to Akter to depart without scoring. Wolvaardt, who was earlier dropped, and Bosch looked to steady the innings, stitching together a fifty-run stand that threatened to take the game away from Bangladesh. But the momentum shifted quickly as Bangladesh picked up three wickets in quick succession.

First, Wolvaardt was run out followed by Bosch’s dismissal just two balls later when Ritu Moni had her caught. Rabeya Khatun then struck with a beauty, deceiving debutant Annerie Dercksen with a turning delivery that clipped the off stump to leave South Africa reeling.

In the first innings, Shorna Akter's fine fifty and Ritu Moni’s explosive cameo powered Bangladesh to a competitive total of 232/6 against South Africa. Bangladesh were struggling at 195/6 in the 46th over after losing Shobhana Mostary and Rabeya Khatun in quick succession but Shorna and Moni added 37 runs in the final three overs to lift the total.

Sharmin Akter also chipped in with a crucial half-century as Bangladesh recovered from a slow start, reaching 150 only by the 40th over before accelerating late. Among South Africa’s bowlers, Nonkululeko Mlaba (2/42) was the standout performer while Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk picked up a wicket each. Despite a few hiccups, Bangladesh’s collective batting effort from the top order ensured a total they would be content with.

South Africa applied early pressure on Bangladesh, restricting them to just 28 runs in the powerplay. Despite the slow start, openers Fargana Hoque and Rubya Haider managed to put up Bangladesh’s highest opening partnership of the tournament. Haider’s patient knock eventually came to an end when she was caught at mid on, handing South Africa their first breakthrough with Chloe Tryon claiming her wicket.

Nonkululeko Mlaba then trapped Hoque LBW to put Bangladesh further on the back foot. However, captain Nigar Sultana Joty and Sharmin Akter combined to rebuild the innings, guiding their side past the 100-run mark in the 30th over.

Joty and Rubya Haider later revived Bangladesh’s innings with a 77-run stand, the highest partnership of the innings, before a breakthrough once again halted their momentum. Joty fell to Mlaba, caught at short cover while attempting to loft one over the fielder.

Akter soon brought up her ninth ODI fifty but her fine knock ended shortly after as she was run out, denting Bangladesh’s rhythm once more. Shorna Akter then anchored the innings with a fluent 51 off 33 balls, that had three fours and as many sixes. All of Bangladesh’s sixes came off her bat, which guided the team to a competitive total.

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