Spinners, Kapp and Brits help boost South Africa’s semi-final chances

South Africa 107 for 3 (Brits 42, Bosch 25, Fahima 2-19) beaten Bangladesh 106 for 3 (Mostary 38, Nigar 32*, Kapp 1-10, Mlaba 1-11) by seven wickets

South Africa got the better of Bangladesh in Dubai to finish the championship stage of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 with six points and a net run rate of 1.382. This was the final match of the league stage for both teams, with Bangladesh bowing out of the competition with just one win.

Captain Laura Wolvaardt lost the toss but was happy to finish second to “control NRR while chasing”. By the end of the evening, however, South Africa’s net strike rate had fallen from 1.527 to 1.382, and they will have to nervously watch as England and the West Indies complete their league matches over the coming days.

Maximum Intent, Minimum Executions

There was no fault in Bangladesh’s batting approach after he chose to bat. They lost Dilara Akter in the first over, eating into an advantage at the wicketkeeper, but did not go into a shell. To begin with, South Africa surprised many by keeping their fast bowlers during the powerplay; the rotation didn’t occur until the eighth. Shathi Rani tried to break the chains, but in vain. She ran down the track, jumped, moved around the crease but couldn’t find a boundary in the first six overs.

She faced 23 balls and played 18 runs. But she attempted offensive shots in 11 of those balls. Rani attempted to attack 50 per cent of the balls she faced, but had only a four and a six and a strike rate of 63.33 to show. Only Tazmin Brits attacked more balls (16) than Rani (15) in the entire match.

Mostary and Nigar save face again

The British embark on the race for South Africa

The British got off to a fast start, hitting three fours in the first two overs as South Africa were 17 for 0 in two overs. Wolvaardt managed to bowl one to the right of middle and beat deep mid-wicket to his left to open his boundary tally, using his feet in a bid to deter leg-spinner Fahima Khatun. But Fahima managed to get revenge on the next ball, bowling one and deceiving Wolvaardt in flight to collect his stump.

Nahida Akter managed to pull off a few false shots – including an advantage over the Brits – in the fourth round while Fahima beat Anneke Bosch twice with a slider. The British and Bosch couldn’t break free and the pressure almost did the trick for Bangladesh. But Fahima couldn’t hold on to a simple offering at mid-wicket when the British bowled one straight to her and parried her for four. The British were on a run-a-ball 21 at that point. The next three overs were 21 before Fahima came back to dismiss Bosch.

By then the British had arrived and South Africa had taken control. So much so that even his dismissal in the 14th place did not sow nervousness in the South African camp. Kapp and Tryon added the finishing touches, even without many freebies, to get the job done. South Africa have the points but will be at the limit regarding their NRR, exactly the scenario they decided to avoid at the start of the match.