Alexandra Candler and Faye Tunnicliffe starred with the bat as the SA Emerging Women claimed an eight-wicket victory over Bangladesh Emerging in the opening T20 at the Pietermaritzburg Oval on Thursday, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Fresh from her century in the final 50-over match, Tunnicliffe continued her fine form with a sublime 82 from 49 balls, striking 11 fours and a six.
She shared a match-winning 146-run partnership with the unbeaten Candler, who scored 65* from 53 deliveries (8 fours), as South Africa successfully chased down Bangladesh’s 152-6, which featured a 78 from 56 balls from Shathi Rani, including 13 fours.
Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Bangladesh found themselves in trouble early on.
Miané Smit (1-14), Candler (1-31) and Luyanda Nzuza (1-17) picked up three of the visitors’ top four batters to reduce them to 18-3 before opener Rani counterattacked against the South African bowlers to help propel her side to 43-3 at the end of the powerplay.
Rani continued to take the game to the home side, finding the boundary with ease on her way to a 35-ball half-century in a crucial partnership with Misty Saha (36).
The pair added a 100-run stand for the second wicket to take Bangladesh to 125-3 after 16 overs.
Caitlin Wyngaard (1-25) finally made the all-important breakthrough in the 18th over, dismissing Rani before two further wickets, including one for Nthabiseng Nini (1-31), saw Bangladesh end their innings on 152-6 with Saha unbeaten on 35.
BANGLADESH BOWLERS PUT TO THE SWORD
In their chase, South Africa got off to a solid start despite the early departure of Yasmeen Khan (1) off the bowling of Fatema Jahan (1-33).
Tunnicliffe and Candler guided South Africa to 31-1 after six overs before upping the ante with assertive stroke play to reach the halfway mark on 76-1, still needing 77 runs to win.
Tunnicliffe brought up her fifty off 31 balls before Candler followed suit with her own milestone in 41 deliveries.
The pair put the Bangladeshi bowlers to the sword while keeping up with the required run rate, reaching the end of the 15th over on 117-1.
Needing just 36 runs from the final five overs, the duo all but sealed the result before Habiba Pinky (1-27) dismissed Tunnicliffe.
The breakthrough came too late to change the outcome, however, as Candler calmly guided the hosts to victory with 11 balls to spare.
The second T20 will take place on Sunday, 9 August at the Chatsworth Oval in Durban from 1pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)
SA EMERGING WOMEN SQUAD
Alexandra Candler (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Leah Jones (Western Province), Yasmeen Khan (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Simone Lourens (Fidelity Titans), Eliz-Mari Marx (Fidelity Titans), Karabo Meso (DP World Lions), Seshnie Naidu (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Nthabiseng Nini (Warriors), Luyanda Nzuza (Fidelity Titans), Diara Ramlakan (DP World Lions), Nondumiso Shangase (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Oluhle Siyo (Western Province), Miané Smit (Fidelity Titans), Faye Tunnicliffe (Western Province) and Caitlin Wyngaard (Fidelity Titans).
RESULTS
50-over Series
1st 50-over - No result: Match abandoned due to rain
2nd 50-over - SA Emerging Women won by 65 runs
SA EM: 256 all out after 49.3 overs; A. Candler 85 (107), M. Smit 49 (64); H. Pinky 3/61, S. Jesmin 2/39
BAN EM: 191 all out after 40.1 overs; M. Kathun 61 (87), A. Era 31 (43); L. Nzuza 3/28, M. Smit 3/8
3rd 50-over - SA Emerging Women won by 38 runs
SA EM: 228 all out after 43.2 overs; F. Tunnicliffe 116 (95), C. Wyngaard 29* (36); D. Biswas 4/46, H. Pinky 3/53
BAN EM: 190 all out after 49.3 overs; R. Jhelik 45 (89), J. Tithi 35 (59); O. Siyo 2/19, E. Marx 2/38
T20 SERIES
RESULT
1st T20 - SA Emerging Women won by 8 wickets
BAN EM: 152/6 after 20 overs; S. Rani 78 (56), M. Saha 35* (38); M. Smit 1/14, L. Nzuza 1/17
SA EM: 153/2 after 18.1 overs; F. Tunnicliffe 82 (49), A. Candler 65* (53); H. Pinky 1/27, F. Jahan 1/33
FIXTURES
Sunday, 9 August at 1pm
2nd T20 - SA Emerging Women vs Bangladesh Emerging Women (Chatsworth Oval, Durban)
Tuesday, 11 August at 1pm
3rd T20 - SA Emerging Women vs Bangladesh Emerging Women (Chatsworth Oval, Durban)