Twin centuries from skipper Laura Wolvaardt, and Tazmin Brits leave the visitors clueless before the Pacers wrap up Bangladesh as they seal the ODI series with a massive victory.
The South African women’s team led by skipper Laura Wolvaardt is hosting Bangladesh for the limited-overs series that included a three-match T20I series followed by a three-match ODI series. The series commenced on 3rd December 2023. The T20I series was shared (1-1) between both these sides.
The visitors, Bangladesh, stunned the home side by sealing a massive 119-run victory in the first ODI. Murshida Khatun was awarded the Player of the Match for her match-winning performance (91 off 100 balls) with the bat playing a crucial role in helping Bangladesh seal a memorable victory. The home side, South Africa bounced back in the 2nd ODI courtesy of a triplet of half-centuries from the top order including the likes of Anneke Bosch (65 off 63 balls), skipper Laura Wolvaardt (54 off 67 balls), Tazmin Brits (50 off 84 balls).
Former skipper Sune Luus (47 off 57 balls) and Anneke Bosch (65 off 63 balls) stayed unbeaten and saw the home side over the line in the 2nd ODI to level the three-match ODI series (1-1), as a result pushing the series into a decider at Benoni. Anneke Bosch was awarded the Player of the Match for her match-winning performance (65 off 63 balls) with the bat.
The South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt won the toss and opted to bat first in the 3rd ODI. The South African openers Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits were at their brutal best as they smashed the Bangladeshi bowlers all over the park. The openers stitched a record-breaking 243-run opening partnership. It is the highest-ever opening partnership for South Africa in the ODI format, surpassing the 209-run partnership between Sune Luus and Andrie Steyn on 19th May 2017, against Ireland. It is also the all-time fifth-highest opening partnership in the ODI format.
With less than 10 overs to go in the innings, the duo was all set to switch on the higher gear before skipper Laura Wolvaardt chopped the ball back onto the stumps off the inside edge to provide the first breakthrough for Bangladesh. Marufa Akter broke the humongous opening stand. She completed her well-deserved century, her fifth in the ODI format before getting dismissed. Anneke Bosh joined Tazmin Brits at the crease and the duo failed to stitch a substantial partnership as they lost the wicket of Tazmin Brits. Ritu Moni provided the 2nd breakthrough for Bangladesh. Tazmin Brits completed her maiden century in the ODI format before getting dismissed.
The home side eventually ended up with a massive total of 316/4 on the board courtesy of a flourish from Anneke Bosch (28 off 19 balls) and Sune Luus (34 off 17 balls) towards the end. Rabeya Khan (2/49) and Marufa Akter (1/35) were the top performers with the ball for Bangladesh. Chasing a massive target of 317, Bangladesh got off to a poor start, losing their top four inside the powerplay, including the big wicket of the Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana.
Marizanne Kapp provided the first breakthrough for South Africa. Ritu Moni joined Fahima Khatun at the crease and the duo stitched a crucial 36-run partnership for the 5th wicket before Eliz-mari Marx trapped Fahima Khatun to provide the 5th breakthrough for South Africa. Shorna Akter joined Ritu Moni at the crease and the duo stitched a 14-run partnership for the 6th wicket before Shorna Akter was found short of her crease to provide another breakthrough for the home side.
Nahida Akter joined Ritu Moni at the crease and the duo stitched a 17-run partnership for the 7th wicket before Nadine de Kerk cleaned up Ritu Moni to provide the crucial breakthrough for her side. The visitors suffered a collapse as they lost their next three wickets for just 5 runs as they were bundled out for 100 in the 32nd over of the run chase. Ritu Moni (33 off 67 balls), Fahima Khatun (15 off 26 balls), and Nahida Akter (11 off 32 balls) were the top performers with the bat for Bangladesh. Nadine de Klerk (5.1-2-10-3), Ayabonga Khakha (6-0-15-3), and Marizanne Kapp (5-0-21-2) were the top performers with the ball for South Africa.
Tazmin Brits was awarded the Player of the Match for her match-winning performance (118 off 124 balls) with the bat, scoring her maiden century in the ODI format, playing a crucial role alongside skipper Laura Wolvaardt to clinch a massive 216-run victory in the 3rd ODI to bounce back and seal the three-match ODI series by a 2-1 margin after suffering a shocking defeat in the 1st ODI.