Late blunders cost Bangladesh Women as South Africa scrape past in last-over thriller

Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk’s late fireworks seal a narrow three-wicket victory for South Africa

Bangladesh came agonisingly close to a historic win but were pipped at the finish thanks to late-fielding lapses as South Africa scraped a three-wicket victory with three balls left in a tense encounter in the Women’s World Cup.

Opting to bat, Bangladesh rode on half-centuries from Sharmin Akhter (50) and Shorna Akter (51) to post a challenging 232 at Visakhapatnam on Monday.

Sharmin anchored the innings with a patient 50 from 77 balls, and the top four all passed 25, frustrating South Africa’s bowlers in the early stages.

The real fireworks, however, came from teenager Shorna. Her 34-ball fifty, the fastest in Bangladeshi women’s ODI history, featured three towering sixes and three piercing fours over long-on, while Ritu Moni’s cameo of 19 off eight balls pushed Bangladesh to an imposing total.

For South Africa, Chloe Tryon anchored the innings with a crucial 62 off 69 balls, while Marizanne Kapp contributed a gritty fifty to keep South Africa in the chase.

Nadine de Klerk then produced the finishing touch, an unbeaten 37 from 29 balls, steering her side to victory with audacious strokeplay.

Bangladesh’s bowlers, led by Nahida Akter and Ritu, applied relentless pressure, but a series of missed chances in the final overs proved costly.

South Africa’s chase had begun shakily. Tazmin Brits, one of the tournament’s in-form batters, fell for consecutive ducks, caught-and-bowled off Nahida Akter, while Laura Wolvaardt survived a let-off at 11 when Rabeya Khan dropped a sharp catch.

Anneke Bosch and Wolvaardt combined for a 55-run stand, stabilising the innings and nudging South Africa into a stable 62 for 3.

Bangladesh struck back with precision. Rabeya’s inch-perfect legbreak accounted for Annerie Dercksen, and Fahima Khatun’s topspinner bowled Sinalo Jafta, leaving South Africa wobbling at 78 for 5.

A few half-chances went begging as Kapp and Tryon began to rebuild, pushing South Africa closer with boundaries and aggressive running between the wickets.

Tryon’s ruthless strokeplay, including a fortunate under-edge through the keeper and a massive leg-side six, kept South Africa alive, while Kapp’s gritty 56 laid the platform for the final assault.

The pivotal moment came with 10 runs needed from eight balls: a miscued drive by de Klerk off Rabeya Khan offered Shorna a match-winning catch, but the ball slipped from her hands.

With 8 required in the last over, de Klerk survived a miscued drive at long-off for a boundary, steadied herself, and blasted a six for the winning runs, inflicting heartbreak on Bangladesh.