CRICKETICC Women's T20 World Cup
South Africa Women Reach Semi-Final with Four-Wicket Win over Bangladesh at Lord's
South Africa booked their place in the semi-finals of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup with a four-wicket win over Bangladesh at Lord's, chasing down 118 with four balls to spare to set up a last-four meeting with England at the Kia Oval.
SOUTH Africa beat Bangladesh by 4 wickets with 4 balls to spare in the final group match and with the victory advanced to the Semi Final against England at the Kia Oval.
Bangladesh made 117 for 5 from 20 overs with the runs coming from three batters in Sobhana Mostary 42 runs from 48 balls with one boundary 6 and three boundary 4's, Nigar Sultana the captain 32 runs from 20 balls with one boundary 6 and four boundary 4's and Sharmin Akhter 22 runs from 29 balls with one boundary 4. Nonkululeko Mlaba 2 for 22 was the pick of the bowlers for South Africa.
South Africa needed 118 to make the semi-final. They started poorly with Laura Wolvaardt the captain going first ball for 0, but then Tazmin Brits and Annerie Dercksen took the score to 52 for 2 from 8.5 overs when Brits was caught by Marufa Akter off Nahida Akter for 20 runs from 24 balls with two boundary 4's. Annerie Dercksen was then joined by Dane van Niekerk and the pair moved the total on to 59 for 3 after 10 overs when van Niekerk was lbw to Sanjida Akter Meghla for 4. Then Marizanne Kapp came to the wicket and she and Dercksen took the score to 87 for 4 when Dercksen was caught at the wicket by Nigar Sultana off Nahida Akter for 45 runs from 45 balls with two boundary 6's and two boundary 4's. Marizanne Kapp was run out for 16 from 21 balls when the South Africa total was 102 for 5 from 17.3 overs.
South Africa made heavy weather of the last few runs as Nadine de Klerk 15 from 14 balls with two boundary 4's was caught by Shorna Akter off Ritu Moni when the South Africa total was 113 for 6 from 18.5 overs.
Chloe Tryon 7 not out and Sinalo Jafta 0 not out saw South Africa home to the target of 118 for 6 from 19.2 overs as they won by 4 wickets with 4 balls to spare, which took South Africa to victory and a place in the Semi Finals against England at the Kia Oval on Thursday.
Match scores
South Africa Women 118 for 6 from 19.2 overs (Dercksen 45, Brits 20, Kapp 16; Nahida Akter 2 for 24) beat Bangladesh Women 117 for 5 from 20 overs (Mostary 42, Sultana 32, Akhter 22; Mlaba 2 for 22) by 4 wickets with 4 balls to spare.
William Powell
Senior Editor · FWA Life Member · Sports Journalist since 1987
William Powell is CUVA Sports' senior editor and lead correspondent, covering football and cricket at the highest level for nearly four decades. A Life Member of the Football Writers' Association, his writing combines deep tactical knowledge with the narrative flair of the best sports journalism.
