South Africa squared the T20I series against Bangladesh one-all when the home team won the third and final match at the Diamond Oval in Kimberley by eight wickets. Put into bat by Protea-captain Laura Wolvaardt, the visitors only managed to scrape together 94 for six.
South Africa finished on 95 for two, scoring the winning runs in the 16th over. Wolvaardt was on 49 (49b, 5x4) and Suné Luus on 15 (22b, 1x4) not out.
Bangladesh walked away with top honours in the first match in Benoni with a 13-run victory while there was no result in the second match, also in Kimberley, due to rain and lightning.
Ayanda Hlubi, who took two for 15 on debut for South Africa, was player of the match while 16-year-old Shorna Akter was player of the series with five wickets over the two matches she played.
SA END THE SERIES ON A HIGH 👌
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) December 8, 2023
Laura Wolvaadrt stood tall as she led the Proteas Women to a convincing 8 wicket victory against Bangladesh 🇿🇦🇧🇩#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #SAWvBANW pic.twitter.com/z11tIooln6
In the post-match interview, Wolvaardt said she was satisfied with the victory.
“I thought the bowlers were excellent today, they set up the victory very well. Today Ayanda was brilliant up front and set things up well for us. It was very special to have a debut like that.
“It wasn’t the easiest wicket to bat on. I was just trying to stay in there and I was glad to get some runs today, especially with the one day matches coming up.”.
Averaging 50 as an opening pair, Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits got the South African run chase off to a flyer when the Protea captain dispatched Nahida Akter’s first delivery for four. Brits was trapped lbw for 17 (13b, 2x4) by Marufa Akter in the fifth over with the score on 35.
Anneke Bosch’s indecision led to her dismissal in the eight over for 9 (10b, 1x4), trapped lbw by Shorifa Khatun. South Africa lost their second wicket with the score on 52.
At the halfway stage, South Africa were left to score 31 of the remaining 60 deliveries.
In the run-up to the victory, it was Wolvaardt who took it to the Bangladesh bowlers, in a hurry to get proceedings over and done with it. Shorna, who took five for 28 in Bloemfontein, bore the brunt of the South African’s attacking batting, with 22 runs coming of her two overs.
Earlier debutant Hlubi got a dream start to her international career when she struck with her only fourth delivery in T20I. Bangladesh opener Murshida Khatun (2, 7b) nibbled at a ball outside off-stump with Sinala Jafta taking the catch behind the wickets. The very next ball Sobhana Mostary (0, 1b) chased an away-swinging delivery with Suné Luus making sure of the slip-catch. Bangladesh was in big trouble on five for two after two overs. Hlubi eventually finished with figures of two for 15, including 14 dot balls, in her four overs.
Wolvaardt continued to expertly manage her bowlers, with Klaas getting in on the action in the sixth over. Lara Goodall got under a high ball to get rid of Shamima Sultana for 8 (13b, 1x4) and to leave Bangladesh on 17 for three.
Delmi Tucker was rewarded for consistent bowling in the 15th over (46 for four) when Hlubi took a catch in the deep that saw the back of Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty for 11 (20b).
Akter was run out in the last over for 23 (16b, 2x4). Mondal, who carried the Bangladesh innings, was bowled by Klaas with the last delivery of the Bangladesh innings for 42 (62b, 2x4).
The first game in the ODI series takes place at Buffalo Park in East London on Saturday 16 December (14:00) with the second on Wednesday 20 December at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom (14:00). The series conclude on Saturday 23 December at Willowmoore Park in Benoni (14:00).
SOUTH AFRICA: Laura Wolvaardt (captain), Tazmin Brits, Anneke Bosch, Suné Luus, Lara Goodall, Delmi Tucker, Eliz-Mari Marx, Sinalo Jafta, Masabata Klaas, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayanda Hlubi.
BANGLADESH: Nigar Sultana Joty (captain), Nahida Akter, Shamima Sultana, Murshida Khatun, Sobhana Mostary, Lata Mondol, Shorna Akter, Shorifa Khatun, Rabeya Khan, Marufa Akter, Fahima Khatun.