For the second time in four days, Nadine de Klerk had to play the hero for South Africa, hitting an unbeaten 37 off 29 balls to guide her team to a three-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the Women’s ODI World Cup. In a match that closely mirrored their recent thriller against India, the Proteas successfully chased down a target of 233 with just three balls to spare at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Monday.
Opting to bat first, Bangladesh posted a competitive 232 for six, their best total of the tournament. After a steady 53-run opening partnership, the innings was anchored by Sharmin Akhter, 50 and captain Nigar Sultana Joty. The real impetus came from 18-year-old Shorna Akter, who smashed a brilliant unbeaten 51 from just 35 balls, including three fours and three sixes, to propel her side to a challenging score.
South Africa’s chase began precariously, with in-form opener Tazmin Brits out for a second consecutive duck. A 55-run stand between Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch provided stability before a collapse saw the Proteas slump to 78 for five. Marizanne Kapp, 56 and Chloe Tryon, 62 then mounted a crucial 85-run partnership for the sixth wicket to bring their side back into the contest.
The game turned in the final overs due to fielding errors from Bangladesh. Tryon was dropped on 46 before being run out, leaving de Klerk to navigate the tense finish. The critical moment came in the penultimate over when Shorna Akter, who had been the star with the bat, dropped a straightforward catch to dismiss de Klerk. The all-rounder capitalized on the lifeline, sealing the victory with a four and a six in the final over.
Player of the match Chloe Tryon said the team's approach was similar to their win against India, drawing confidence from their ability to chase a significant total in the final overs. "Yeah, it was quite familiar," Tryon said. "Take it deep and believe that 75-80 runs in the last 10 overs was achievable." The victory is South Africa's third in a row, moving them to third in the standings, while Bangladesh remains winless after three matches.
