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

Rabeya Khan to Laura Wolvaardt, A bit full, on off, Wolvaardt gets forward to defend.

Rabeya Khan to Laura Wolvaardt, Short and on off, punched to cover.

Rabeya Khan to Laura Wolvaardt, PUT DOWN! Rabeya Khan shells it off her bowling! How costly this drop will be that only time will tell. Rabeya drops it short, on middle. A loose shot from Wolvaardt as she looks to punch it down the ground with hard hands. Ends up chipping it back towards the bowler. Khan looks to take the catch over her head to her right but the ball bursts through and it lobs behind. Rabeya turns around and tries to take the catch on the second attempt but the ball drops down on the ground before she can react and make amends.

Rabeya Khan to Laura Wolvaardt, Nice loop on this one, drawing the batter forward, on middle. Wolvaardt defends it with the bat close to the front pad.

Rabeya Khan to Laura Wolvaardt, FOUR! Rabeya Khan is greeted with a boundary! Khan starts with a flighted delivery but offers width on off. Laura presses on the front foot and drives it square to the left of the diving cover fielder for a boundary.

Spin in tandem. Rabeya Khan is brought into the attack now. She replaces Marufa Akter.

Nahida Akter to Anneke Bosch, Shorter and on off, Anneke waits back to defend.

Nahida Akter to Laura Wolvaardt, This keeps straight, full and on off, punched to long off for a single.

Nahida Akter to Laura Wolvaardt, Drags the length back, on off, Laura pushes it to the left of the bowler.

Nahida Akter to Laura Wolvaardt, This is slowed down by Nahida, and that results in her finding a hint of away turn, full and on middle. Wolvaardt lunges to smother the spin, but the ball drops on her and spins away to catch the outer half. It rolls away to point.

Nahida Akter to Laura Wolvaardt, Flatter and fuller, outside off, slapped straight to cover.

Nahida Akter to Anneke Bosch, Dropped short, on the off stump, Bosch gets on top of it and punches it to long off for a single to get off the mark.

Marufa Akter to Laura Wolvaardt, FOUR! Nicely done! A bit too straight from Marufa as the ball swings onto the pads, on a length. Wolvaardt makes use of the angle and clips it behind square on the leg side for a boundary.

Marufa Akter to Laura Wolvaardt, Marufa goes full, on off, Wolvaardt looks to force the drive, but the ball catches the inner half of the bat and rolls back to the bowler. Akter picks the ball up to her right and fires in a throw towards the bowling end, which hits Laura's pads.

Marufa Akter to Laura Wolvaardt, At 109.5 kph, nipping back in, on a good length, on off. Laura gets her bat down quickly and stabs it in front of mid-wicket.

Marufa Akter to Laura Wolvaardt, Swinging back in, on a good length, on off and middle. Laura gets her bat out in front and wrists it to mid-wicket.

Marufa Akter to Laura Wolvaardt, On a back of a length, on off, Laura gets on her toes and whips it to mid-wicket.

Marufa Akter to Laura Wolvaardt, In the channel on off, on a length, Wolvaardt eases the drive to cover.

Nahida Akter to Anneke Bosch, Slanting into the pads, a bit short, Bosch turns it away to mid-wicket. A WICKET-MAIDEN FROM NAHIDA AKTER.

Nahida Akter to Anneke Bosch, Slower and on a nagging length, on off, Anneke Bosch is solid in defence.

Nahida Akter to Anneke Bosch, Sliding onto the pads, shorter and quicker, Anneke nudges it to mid-wicket. The throw towards the keeper is poor but it is backed up by the short third fielder.

Nahida Akter to Anneke Bosch, A hint of turn, on a nagging length, outside off, Bosch keeps it out on the off side.

Nahida Akter to Anneke Bosch, Sliding on with the arm into the right-hander, short in length. Bosch hangs back to deal with it. Ekes out an inside edge that rolls to square leg.

Anneke Bosch is in at number 3.

Nahida Akter to Tazmin Brits, OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! A soft dismissal! 2nd duck on the trot for South Africa's prolific run-getter, Tazmin Brits. This is darted in by Nahid from around the wicket, short and on the off stump. Brits stays back to punch it down the ground but the ball stops on her and she is through the shot early. The ball catches the toe end of the bat and balloons back to Akter, who takes a dolly in front of her face. South Africa Women are 3/1, needing 230 runs to win.

Nahida Akter to operate from the other end.

Marufa Akter to Laura Wolvaardt, Pitched up, on off, Wolvaardt presents a straight bat and with a high elbow, she firms the drive to mid off.

Marufa Akter to Laura Wolvaardt, Shaping back into the right-hander, on a length, Wolvaardt gets on the front foot and pushes it back to Marufa with a straight bat.

Marufa Akter to Laura Wolvaardt, Wide! This is sprayed beyond the tramline on off. Wolvaardt leaves the ball alone.

Marufa Akter to Laura Wolvaardt, South Africa and Wolvaardt are underway! Marufa goes full in search of swing and lands it in the blockhole, on off. Laura bends and squeezes it out between cover and point. Brits had to hurry to complete the second run but the throw towards Akter at the bowling end lacked power and it was away from the stumps too. That allows Tazmin to get home.

Marufa Akter to Laura Wolvaardt, Angled in on a good length, around the off stump. Wolvaardt presses forward and pats it to cover.

Marufa Akter to Laura Wolvaardt, Fuller in length, tailing back in sharply, Laura attempts the flick but is beaten on the inside edge and wears it on the outside half of the front pad.

Marufa Akter to Laura Wolvaardt, Marufa gets the ball to move back in the air, on a back of a length, on off. Laura stands tall and taps it back to Akter.

We are back for another dramatic 50 overs with South Africa's reply with the bat. The players of Bangladesh spread across the field and take their respective positions. Laura Wolvaardt is accompanied by Tazmin Brits to open for the Proteas. And it will be Marufa Akter, the 20-year-old to bowl the first over of the run chase. The Proteas skipper, Wolvaardt, to face. Here we go...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

That was a commanding batting display from this resurgent Bangladesh side. So, it’s 233 for South Africa Women to chase if they’re to secure a hat-trick of wins. But make no mistake, this won’t be a stroll in the park. Bangladesh’s bowling has been their biggest strength. They made England Women sweat, huff, and puff while defending just 178 a few moons ago, and with the confidence from today’s batting, they’ll surely believe they can defend this total too. However, South Africa Women have won both their games while chasing, which suggests a spicy second half. Will the dew play its role? Or can Bangladesh Women achieve the unthinkable and create history in Vizag? All will be answered shortly in the run chase. Stay tuned.

South Africa's Nonkululeko Mlaba is in for a chat with the broadcasters. She says that during her first over she found some turn and therefore, she slowed her pace down. Mentions that it doesn't matter who starts for them, whether it is herself or Chloe Tryon and both try to do the job for the team. Shares that she sticks to her stock delivery which is the arm ball and tries to keep the stumps in play whilst varying the pace.

However, Mlaba struck at just the right moment. In the span of a few deliveries, South Africa removed both set batters, as Bangladesh stumbled from 150/2 to 164/4. But inspired by the solid platform built by the third-wicket stand, Shorna Akter came out firing, restoring balance with a brilliant fifty. And thanks to Mst Ritu Moni's late flourish in the final overs, Bangladesh Women crossed the 200-run mark, adding an impressive 57 runs in the last five overs. 

The slow-burn continued with Bangladesh progressing steadily at just three or four runs per over. However, in the 11-20 over period, they significantly reduced their dot-ball percentage by rotating the strike consistently and occasionally finding the boundary. This resistance was eventually broken by Chloe Tryon. The breakthrough caused a mini-collapse as Bangladesh quickly slipped from 53/0 to 73/2, losing the well-set Fargana Hoque in the process. Relief came with the arrival of the skipper, Nigar Sultana Joty, who, alongside Sharmin, managed to build a crucial recovery partnership and gain back some momentum. Despite the ball gripping off the deck and Nonkululeko Mlaba proving effective, the pair established a crucial 77-run partnership, and their combined effort saw Bangladesh score a vital 50 runs in the 31-40 over phase without losing a single wicket, certainly creating anxious moments in the Proteas camp.

Things started quietly, with the Bangladeshi openers displaying great caution. There was no real intent to play big shots early on, but they successfully frustrated the South African bowlers by getting through the Powerplay without losing a wicket, despite managing only 28 runs. By ticking this box, they actually registered their highest opening partnership of the tournament. Despite the accurate bowling of Marizanne Kapp and Masabata Klaas, the lack of a breakthrough in the first ten overs was visibly frustrating the Proteas.

Well done, Bangladesh Women! They’ve delivered an inspiring batting display against the mighty Proteas. From Dhaka to Khulna, Chattogram to Sylhet, this performance will be celebrated across the nation for a long time to come. Batting was their nemesis for a long, long time, but this time around, they ticked several boxes and have posted a really good total on the board. Cricket is the game of momentum, if you don't grab it, it will slip like sand in your hand. South Africa will surely feel they gave away too many runs in the backend, and won't be very pleased with their fielding display either. 

Tumi Sekhukhune to Mst Ritu Moni, Another brace to end the innings! Tumi spots the batter shuffling across and she tries to keep it away from her. On a length, Ritu drags it in front of square on the leg side to the right of deep mid-wicket. The fielder in the deep gets to her right and throws it towards the bowling end. Not the best of throws as it dribbles towards Sinalo Jafta and it is away from her. Sinalo moves to her right and releases an underarm throw at the batting end but she misses. That allows Moni to reach home with a dive. 9 runs off the final over and Bangladesh end up with 232 on the board!

Tumi Sekhukhune to Mst Ritu Moni, Near the tramline on off, full in length. Mst Ritu Moni walks across and heaves it to the right of deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

Tumi Sekhukhune to Shorna Akter, Full and on off, jammed out to mid off for a single.

Tumi Sekhukhune to Shorna Akter, Comedy of errors! And that will be FIFTY FOR AKTER! Shorna raises her bat towards the dugout and Nigar Sultana Joty and Co. are all smiles in a standing ovation. Slower one from Tumi, on a good length, outside off, Akter reaches out and taps it to point. It goes straight to Laura Wolvaardt there and Akter is called through for a quick single by her partner but she is caught ball-watching. Both batters are at the batting end before Shorna starts running towards the bowling end. Laura throws it towards the keeper, Sinalo Jafta, who then tries to lob it towards the bowler but she has her gloves on and her throw goes over and wide of the bowler. The ball rolls towards long on and that allows Shorna to complete the run and also run one more. Also, this is the fastest ODI half century by any Bangladesh Women cricketer in history. Now, that is some achievement from Shorna! 

Tumi Sekhukhune to Shorna Akter, On a length, outside off, Akter swings a bit too hard and loses her shape in the process. Bunts it back to the bowler.

Tumi Sekhukhune to Shorna Akter, Good running! Tumi bowls the off-cutter and keeps it away from the batter's arc, on a length. Akter is made to reach out and she slams it to the left of long off. Moni comes charging back at the bowling end and reaches home before the throw comes in from the deep.

Kapp to bowl the final over, then? Nope. Interestingly, it will be Tumi Sekhukhune (8-0-48-0) to wrap the first innings with the last 6 deliveries.

Nadine De Klerk to Shorna Akter, Low full toss, on middle, Akter wrists it to deep mid-wicket for a single. 38 runs off the last 2 overs!

Nadine De Klerk to Shorna Akter, SIX! Walloped! Nadine misses her mark and serves it right in the slot, on off. Shorna stays leg side of the ball and gets down on a knee to get under the ball. Pumps it way over the long on fence for a biggie.