South Africa Emerging Women completed a dominant 38-run victory over Bangladesh Women Emerging Players in the third One-Day at Pietermaritzburg to seal the three-match series 2-0. After recovering from a shaky start through a magnificent century from Faye Tunnicliffe, the hosts defended their total with a disciplined bowling performance, never allowing Bangladesh to build the sustained partnerships required in the chase.
Electing to bat first, South Africa Emerging Women endured an early setback when opener Simone Lourens was dismissed for 9 off 10 balls, caught by Habiba Islam off Disha Biswas, leaving the score at 11/1 in 3.3 overs. Opener Diara Ramlakan struggled to find momentum and managed only 2 from 16 deliveries before Afia Ashima provided Bangladesh with another breakthrough. The visitors continued to dominate the opening exchanges as Miane Smit departed for 10 off 21 balls, followed immediately by Yasmeen Khan, who scored 4 off 4 balls, reducing the hosts to 30/4 in 8.4 overs.
With South Africa under immense pressure, Faye Tunnicliffe produced an innings of exceptional composure that completely transformed the contest. She first found support from captain Nondumiso Shangase, but the skipper was dismissed without scoring, leaving the hosts struggling at 30/5. At that stage, Bangladesh looked firmly in control, but Tunnicliffe refused to panic and began rebuilding the innings patiently.
The recovery started with Leah Jones, who contributed 13 off 21 balls in a valuable 37-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Although Jones fell to Habiba Islam, the foundation had been laid for a bigger recovery. Eliz-Mari Marx then joined Tunnicliffe, and the pair added another 32 runs before Marx was dismissed for 11 off 26 deliveries by Jannatul Ferdus, leaving South Africa at 82/7.
Still needing a substantial finish, Tunnicliffe received excellent support from Oluhle Siyo. Together they stitched a crucial 21-run stand, with Siyo making 10 from 14 balls before becoming Disha Biswas’ fourth wicket. Bangladesh sensed another opportunity, but Tunnicliffe remained composed and found another capable partner in Seshnie Naidu. Their 25-run partnership helped push the innings towards respectability before Naidu departed for 14 off 18 balls.
The defining stand of the innings came for the final wicket when Faye Tunnicliffe and Caitlin Wyngaard frustrated Bangladesh with an unbeaten 39-run partnership. Wyngaard played the perfect supporting role with 29 not out from 36 deliveries, while Tunnicliffe accelerated brilliantly to finish with a magnificent 116 off 95 balls, striking 14 fours and two sixes at a strike rate above 122. Her outstanding knock lifted South Africa Emerging Women from 30/5 to 228 all out in 43.2 overs, giving the hosts a total that looked unlikely after the opening collapse.
Bangladesh’s bowlers impressed for much of the innings. Disha Biswas was the standout performer with outstanding figures of 4/46 from 10 overs, accounting for Simone Lourens, Miane Smit, Oluhle Siyo and Diara Ramlakan. Habiba Islam claimed 3/53, including the key wickets of Yasmeen Khan, Nondumiso Shangase and Leah Jones. Jannatul Ferdus chipped in with 1/39, while Afia Ashima picked up 1 wicket in an economical spell. Although Sabikun Nahar Jesmin and Lata Mondal went wicketless, they kept things relatively tight during the middle overs.
Chasing 229, Bangladesh Women Emerging Players made a cautious start through Shathi Rani and Murshida Khatun. The opening pair added 19 runs before Oluhle Siyo produced the breakthrough, removing Murshida for 8 off 13 balls. Shathi continued to anchor the innings and shared a promising 37-run partnership with Rubya Haider, but she was eventually dismissed for 24 off 50 balls by Caitlin Wyngaard, leaving Bangladesh at 56/2.
Rubya Haider fought hard to keep Bangladesh in the contest and built another important stand with Jannatul Ferdous. Their 69-run partnership for the third wicket briefly shifted momentum towards the visitors as both batters rotated strike effectively. Rubya top-scored with 45 off 89 deliveries, hitting four boundaries before becoming Miane Smit’s wicket at 125/3. Jannatul Ferdous also played a useful innings of 35 off 59 balls, but she was unfortunately run out after adding valuable runs.
The middle order failed to build on that platform. Lata Mondal scored 8, Afia Ashima managed 3, while Ekka Mollik contributed 6 before Bangladesh slipped to 153/7. Another 22-run partnership between Jannatul Ferdous and Habiba Islam briefly delayed the inevitable, but Ferdous departed for 6, followed soon after by Habiba, who struck a quick 25 from 22 balls, including four boundaries.
Captain Disha Biswas remained unbeaten on 10, but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Sabikun Nahar Jesmin was dismissed without scoring as Bangladesh were eventually bowled out for 190 in 49.3 overs, handing South Africa Emerging Women a deserved 38-run victory and the series.
South Africa’s bowlers once again shared the workload effectively. Eliz-Mari Marx and Caitlin Wyngaard picked up two wickets each, while Oluhle Siyo also claimed two wickets apiece to keep Bangladesh under constant pressure. Seshnie Naidu bowled an excellent full spell of 10 overs, returning economical figures of 1/34, while Nthabiseng Nini also contributed with 1/9 from five overs, and Miane Smit returned figures of 1/18 (6) ensuring Bangladesh never gained complete control of the chase.
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