South Africa vs Bangladesh Highlights, Women's World Cup 2025: South Africa beat Bangladesh by three wickets

Masabata Klaas to Rubya Haider, Angled across the batter, on a length. Rubya Haider gets half forward to cut it away, but gets beaten on the inside edge.

Masabata Klaas to Rubya Haider, Around off, at 109.8 kph, full in length. It just nips away from the deck to beat the outside edge as Rubya tentatively plays at it.

Marizanne Kapp to Fargana Hoque, Nice and full, on off, Fargana Hoque blocks it out.

Marizanne Kapp to Rubya Haider, Had to hurry! Back of a length, angling into the batter. Rubya Haider tucks it to the left of short mid-wicket and calls Fargana for a quick single. Annerie Dercksen is quick to move to her left and picks and throws in a motion, forcing Hoque to dive at the batting end. However, Annerie Dercksen misses her shy at that end and the ball rolls through short third, but the batters settle with a single.

Marizanne Kapp to Rubya Haider, Uses the wider angle, does Kapp, and lands a yard behind fuller length, around off. Rubya Haider taps the inswinging delivery to the mid-wicket region.

Marizanne Kapp to Rubya Haider, Around the stumps, on a length, curving into the middle stump. Rubya Haider plays with the angle and tucks it to short mid-wicket.

Marizanne Kapp to Fargana Hoque, Length ball, swinging away, outside off. Fargana Hoque hangs her bat away from the body and gets a thickish outside edge. The ball rolls towards the left of the slip cordon for a single at deep third.

Marizanne Kapp to Rubya Haider, Gentle inward shape, on a length, at the pads. Rubya Haider steers it through backward square leg and rotates the strike.

Masabata Klaas to Fargana Hoque, Back of a length, just outside off. Fargana Hoque steers it gently to backward point. Excellent start for Klaas. 

Masabata Klaas to Fargana Hoque, Outside off and short in length. Fargana Hoque gets across and pulls it to the left of short mid-wicket, where Annerie Dercksen makes a diving stop.

Masabata Klaas to Fargana Hoque, Nagging length, on top of off, Hoque stands tall and drops it down the pitch with soft hands.

Masabata Klaas to Fargana Hoque, Full and on the fourth stump. Fargana Hoque with a confident front foot block to short cover.

Masabata Klaas to Rubya Haider, Just wide enough! Across off, on a fullish length. Rubya Haider tentatively pushes at it, and gets a thick outside edge. The ball shoots past the left of the diving Tazmin Brits at second slip and runs towards deep third. They cross.

Masabata Klaas to Rubya Haider, Pitched outside leg, on a length, and angling on the pads. Rubya Haider tries to work it across the line but wears on the front pad. An appeal for LBW, but not given.

Masabata Klaas will bowl from the other end.

Marizanne Kapp to Fargana Hoque, Evident away shape, full in length, outside off. Fargana Hoque has a casual poke at it, but plays inside the line and the ball beats the outside edge. 3 off the opening over, then.

Marizanne Kapp to Fargana Hoque, Fuller and straighter, on off. Fargana Hoque pushes it gently to extra cover.

Marizanne Kapp to Fargana Hoque, Almost chopped on! Back of a length at 106.5 kph, around off. Fargana Hoque tries to cut it square, but gets a thick inside edge and the ball dribbles on the crease.

Marizanne Kapp to Fargana Hoque, Full, on off, watchfully blocked back to the bowler.

Marizanne Kapp to Rubya Haider, Haider gets off the mark with a single by flicking this full ball to deep fine leg.

Marizanne Kapp to Fargana Hoque, First runs off the bat for Bangladesh Women! Fuller delivery, on the pads. Fargana Hoque waits for it and clips behind square on the leg side for a single. Fargana Hoque is off the mark.

Marizanne Kapp to Fargana Hoque, WIDE! Kapp begins with a loosener! Bashes the hard length, down leg. Fargana Hoque shapes to pull but misses. Wide given.

We are all set for the game to commence. It is a cloudy afternoon and that has meant the floodlights have to be switched on. Laura Wolvaardt and Co. head out to the centre. It will be Rubya Haider and Fargana Hoque to open the innings for Bangladesh. Marizanne Kapp will start with the new ball for South Africa. Kapp to Hoque with a couple of slips in place. Off we go...

It is now time for the national anthems as Laura Wolvaardt and Nigar Sultana Joty lead their respective sides out. It will be Bangladesh's national anthem first, followed by that of South Africa.

South Africa’s Nadine De Klerk is up for a chat with Jatin Sapru. She begins by saying it was a great win the other day and emphasizes the importance of bringing that same character into every game. She acknowledges that Richa Ghosh batted really well and put them under pressure, and speaking about her dropped catch, she admits that’s just how cricket goes sometimes. However, she adds that it’s important to move on and stay focused on the current match. Reflecting on her batting performance, she says it was a great opportunity for her, as she doesn’t often get much time at the crease batting lower down the order. She mentions that her approach was simply to stay out there and take the game deep. Also credits the bowlers for restricting a side like India to 251 and believes that they will do the same against Bangladesh. Says that Bangladesh have been brilliant with the ball and they will have to bowl well in order to restrict them to a low total.

PITCH REPORT - Alan Wilkins is near the pitch and informs that there has been plenty of rain overnight and this morning as well. He points out that there are still grey clouds around, making it a cool afternoon, though the humidity is on the higher side, but not as oppressive as in Colombo. Mentions that the square boundaries measure 54 and 59 metres, with the straight hit at 67 metres. Carlos Brathwaite joins him and mentions that this is a fresh wicket. Despite being a new surface, there are a few bare patches, and the pace at which the spinners bowl will be crucial. He adds that spinners have found success here when bowling at under 75 kph. Carlos feels that bowling wicket to wicket will be important for the spinners. Believes that Bangladesh will need to put enough runs on the board for their spinners to come into play, something they have struggled to do so far in the tournament.

The captain of South Africa Women, Laura Wolvaardt, says they would have bowled anyway, as there might be dew later on, which might prove challenging to grip the ball. Highlights the group has been on a high after that win against India, but also mentions that they have a long way to go in this tournament. Stresses on taking one game at a time by being fully refocused and prepared for this game. Informs that they have two changes with Masabata Klaas and Annerie Dercksen coming into the side.

The captain of Bangladesh Women, Nigar Sultana Joty, says that this is the kind of wicket where you can get runs batting first. Mentions that they wanted to give their bowlers the best bowling conditions. Shares that they have had a short turnaround and the talk has been about the need for the batting unit to step up. Informs that they have made two changes with Fargana Hoque and Mst Ritu Moni coming into the side.

South Africa Women (Playing XI) - Laura Wolvaardt (C), Tazmin Brits, Anneke Bosch (In for Sune Luus), Annerie Dercksen, Marizanne Kapp, Sinalo Jafta (WK), Chloe Tryon, Nadine De Klerk, Masabata Klaas (In for Ayabonga Khaka), Nonkululeko Mlaba, and Tumi Sekhukhune.

Bangladesh Women (Playing XI) - Rubya Haider, Fargana Hoque (In for Sumaiya Akter), Sharmin Akhter, Nigar Sultana Joty (C/WK), Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter, Fahima Khatun, Nahida Akter, Rabeya Khan, Mst Ritu Moni (In for Nishita Akter Nishi), and Marufa Akter.

TOSS - The flip of the coin is won by Bangladesh Women and Nigar Sultana Joty elects to BAT first.