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Record-breaking Wolvaardt and Brits help Proteas to series win

cricket23 December 2023 18:22| © MWP
By:Ross Roche
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A record-breaking opening wicket stand between captain Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits set the Proteas on their way to a massive total of 316/4, which Bangladesh weren’t able to threaten at all as they fell to 100 all out to lose the deciding ODI by 216 runs at Willowmoore Park in Benoni on Saturday.

Bangladesh had won the first ODI in East London by 119 runs, with the Proteas bouncing back to win the second in Potchefstroom by eight wickets, and they then finished the series in style with another thumping win.

“After winning the toss and batting first you really want to put up a big score, so I am really happy we were able to lay the foundation,” said Wolvaardt after the match.

“Then the way Sune (Luus) and Anneke (Bosch) finished was pretty special to push us past the 300 run mark.

“It was then amazing to have that start with the ball and have them three/four wickets down that early which made defending that score a whole lot easier.”

The easy victory was set up by the superb Wolvaardt, who slammed her way to her fifth ODI century, making 126 off 134 balls, cracking 13 fours and a six and Brits, who reached her maiden international century, as she struck eight fours and two sixes on her way to 118 off 124 balls.

The 243-run opening wicket partnership was the highest ever for the Proteas women, eclipsing the unbeaten 224-run fourth wicket stand between Johmari Logtenberg and Mignon du Preez set against the Netherlands back in 2007.

That helped them power to a monster total that always seemed like it would be out of Bangladesh’s grasp and so it proved as a poor start led to them being skittled for a low score.

“It was awesome. To get that 200-run partnership was pretty special. We both helped each other throughout our innings. I think around the 80-run mark it was getting a bit hot out there, so we were encouraging each other to keep going,” said Wolvaardt.

BANGLADESH CRUMBLE

The Bangladesh chase got off to a disastrous start and they were effectively out of the running by the seventh over as they crashed to 28/4.

It was reckless cricket from the top order as they targeted a fast start, but instead played poor shots as Shamima Sultana (6) hit a four and two off the first two balls of the innings before edging the third from Marizanne Kapp to keeper Sinalo Jafta.

Murshida Khan (8) hit her first two balls for four, the second an edge just evading the slips, before pulling a ball from Ayabonga Khaka straight to Brits at mid-wicket to reduce them to 16/2.

Last match centurion Fargana Pinky (8) was caught at cover by Tumi Sekhukhune off Khaka, followed by captain Nigar Sultana trapped LBW by Kapp to leave them in huge trouble.

Fahima Khatun (16) and Ritu Moni (33) then combined for the innings' biggest partnership as they stopped the rot for a bit with a 36-run stand, before Khatun was out LBW to Eliz-Mari Marx with the score 64/5.

Shorna Akter (1) was run out by Nadine de Klerk reducing them to 78/6, with Nahida Akter (11) and Moni combining for a 17-run seventh-wicket stand.

Four quick wickets then fell for just five runs as Moni was bowled by De Klerk, Akter was caught by Luus off the bowling of Khaka and Rebeya, for a duck, and Marufa Akter (1) were both pinned LBW by De Klerk as they crashed to 100 all out.

De Klerk was the pick of the bowlers with top figures of 3-10, while Khaka, 3-15, and Kapp, 2-21, also made impressive contributions.

CENTURIES FOR WOLWAARDT AND BRITS

At the start if play the Proteas won the toss and chose to bat, with Wolvaardt and Brits getting off to a steady start as they brought up their 50-stand in the ninth over and moved to 60/0 at the end of the 10 over powerplay.

Wolvaardt brought up her half century with a single in the 18th over, which also saw the team's hundred come up, while Brits reached her half century with a single in the 21st over.

Bangladesh did manage to slow the scoring rate in the middle overs but the Proteas eased their way over the 150 mark in the 29th over.

Wolvaardt was the first to reach three figures with a single in the 38th over, followed by the team's 200 being brought up in the 39th.

Brits brought up her first century in her 20th match with a boundary in the 40th over and with 10 runs coming off it the shackles had been released.

The 41st over went for 17 runs as Wolvaardt unleashed a lovely six inside out and cracked back-to-back boundaries at the end of it, while the 42nd went for 14 as Brits hammered a six over long off while Wolvaardt smashed another four.

But the fun finally came to an end at the start of the 43rd as Wolvaardt dragged on returning opening bowler Marufa Akter, followed in the next by Brits as she came down the wicket to Moni only to be stumped by keeper Nigar Sultana.

The Proteas, however, didn’t slow down as Luus came in and thumped 34 off 17 balls (6x4) and Bosch finished unbeaten on 28 off 19 (2x4, 1x6) as they cruised over the 300-run mark.

PROTEAS: Tazmin Brits, Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Anneke Bosch, Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Nadine de Klerk, Eliz-Mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Sinalo Jafta (wkt), Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas

BANGLADESH: Nigar Sultana (capt/wkt), Shamima Sultana, Nahida Akter, Fargana Pinky, Murshida Khatun, Ritu Moni, Shorna Akter, Rabeya, Fahima Khatun, Sultana Khatun, Marufa Akter

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