South Africa Emerging Women produced a disciplined all-round performance to register a convincing 65-run win over Bangladesh Emerging Women in the second match of the Bangladesh Women Emerging Players tour of South Africa at Chatsworth Stadium, Durban. The hosts recovered from early setbacks through crucial middle-order partnerships before their bowlers maintained relentless pressure, ensuring Bangladesh were bowled out for 191 in 40.1 overs while chasing 257.
Opting to bat first, South Africa Emerging Women had a shaky beginning as they lost Yasmeen Khan for 13 off 17 balls, caught by Murshida Khatun off Habiba Islam, with the score on 17 in the fourth over. Despite the early breakthrough, Alexandra Candler settled in confidently and stitched together a valuable 92-run partnership for the second wicket with Miane Smit. The duo absorbed the pressure before gradually accelerating, rotating the strike effectively while punishing loose deliveries. Smit contributed an important 49 from 64 balls, striking seven boundaries before Habiba Islam denied her a deserved half-century at 109/2.
With Bangladesh looking to tighten their grip, Candler found another dependable partner in Karabo Meso, and together they added 45 runs for the third wicket. Meso played a composed knock of 26 off 33 deliveries, including three fours, before Jannatul Ferdus trapped her leg before wicket. Candler, meanwhile, continued to anchor the innings beautifully, reaching a well-crafted 85 off 107 balls with six boundaries. Her patient innings ensured South Africa always had a solid platform, but Bangladesh struck back when she was dismissed at 199/4, caught by Murshida Khatun off Sabikun Nahar Jesmin.
The middle order ensured the momentum never completely slipped away. Faye Tunnicliffe added a brisk 27 from 31 balls, sharing a useful 26-run stand with captain Nondumiso Shangase, who chipped in with 6 runs. After Shangase departed, Tunnicliffe continued alongside Leah Jones, taking the score beyond 220 before falling as the seventh wicket with the total on 225. Jones managed 4, while Eliz-Mari Marx provided late impetus with 17 off 17 balls, including a six and a four. Although wickets continued to tumble in the closing overs, Seshnie Naidu remained unbeaten on 10, while Nthabiseng Nini scored 4, helping South Africa Emerging Women finish on 256 in 49.3 overs.
Bangladesh Emerging Women shared the bowling responsibilities effectively despite the defeat. Habiba Islam was the standout performer, claiming 3 wickets for 61 runs in her 10 overs, dismissing Yasmeen Khan, Miane Smit and Eliz-Mari Marx. Sabikun Nahar Jesmin bowled economically and picked up 2 for 39 in 10 overs, including the prized wicket of Alexandra Candler. Fatema Jahan returned 2 for 41 from nine overs, while Jannatul Ferdus claimed 1 for 23 in five overs. Disha Biswas removed Nthabiseng Nini, whereas Misty Shaha accounted for Nondumiso Shangase. Although Lata Mondal and Afia Ashima remained wicketless, they played supporting roles in restricting the scoring during the middle overs.
Chasing 257, Bangladesh never managed to establish lasting momentum despite a few promising partnerships. They suffered an early setback when Shathi Rani was trapped lbw by Nthabiseng Nini for 4, leaving the visitors at 11/1. Murshida Khatun then attempted to rebuild alongside captain Rubya Haider, but the partnership yielded only 20 runs before Haider departed for 5. Murshida looked composed throughout her innings and found support from Lata Mondal, with the pair adding 31 runs for the third wicket. Lata made 17 off 22 balls, striking four boundaries before being stumped by Karabo Meso off Luyanda Nzuza.
Murshida continued to hold one end firmly and added another 29-run partnership with Misty Shaha, who scored 8, before combining with Afia Ashima in Bangladesh’s best stand of the innings worth 41 runs. Ashima contributed a fighting 31 from 43 balls, hitting four boundaries, but South Africa struck at the perfect moment as Miane Smit trapped her lbw. Shortly afterwards, the biggest breakthrough arrived when Murshida’s resilient knock of 61 from 87 balls, featuring eight boundaries, ended after she was caught by Eliz-Mari Marx off Nzuza. Her dismissal at 132/5 effectively shifted the contest firmly in South Africa’s favour.
The lower order tried to delay the inevitable. Jannatul Ferdus remained unbeaten on 20 off 29 balls, sharing a 44-run partnership with Disha Biswas, who made 5, before another run out removed the Bangladesh skipper. Habiba Islam struck a quick 5 off 3 balls, but she was caught by substitute S. Lourens off Miane Smit. Sabikun Nahar Jesmin was dismissed for a duck, while Fatema Jahan failed to score before being run out as Bangladesh were eventually bowled out for 191 in 40.1 overs, falling 65 runs short despite collecting 35 extras.
South Africa Emerging Women’s bowling attack complemented their batting effort with disciplined spells throughout the innings. Luyanda Nzuza produced impressive figures, taking 3 wickets for 28 runs in 10 overs, including the crucial dismissals of Lata Mondal, Murshida Khatun and Misty Shaha. Eliz-Mari Marx claimed 1 for 23 in six overs, while Nthabiseng Nini picked up 1 for 24 despite bowling only 4.1 overs. Leah Jones contributed 1 for 23 in five overs, Nondumiso Shangase returned 1 for 23, and Miane Smit was the standout with 3 for 8 in three overs. Although Alexandra Candler and Seshnie Naidu finished with one expensive spell each without wickets, their teammates maintained pressure through disciplined lines, sharp fielding and two vital run-outs to seal an emphatic victory.
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