On Saturday, Bangladesh played their first-ever ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup match as they took on South Africa at the University Oval in Dunedin. Bangladesh’s captain Nigar Sultana won the toss and was elected to field first.
Jahanara Alam started the proceedings for Bangladesh and had Fariha Trisna, a left-arm seamer, for company, sharing the new ball. While Alam delivered some good outswingers, Trisna brought the ball in to the right-handers. South Africa’s opening batter Tazmin Brits, who took 19 balls to get off the mark did not look comfortable and the right-handed batter perished scoring just eight runs off 22 balls. Her opening partner, Laura Wolvaardt, on the other hand, looked relatively at home as she crafted a 52-ball 41 before being clean bowled by Ritu Moni.
Captain Sune Luus (25 runs off 46 balls) and South Africa’s leading run-getter Mignon du Preez (18 runs off 26 balls) failed to contribute much as they were sent back by some good bowling and presence of mind from Bangladesh. Towards the end, Chloe Tryon (39 runs off 40 balls) and Marizanne Kapp (42 runs off 45 balls) plundered some big hits as they took South Africa’s total past the 200-run mark. The Proteas were bundled out for 207 runs in 49.5 overs.
Playing their first-ever World Cup match, Bangladesh looked good on the field for the majority parts of the play, apart from a few misfields and a dropped catch, not to forget that they took a couple of spectacular catches in the outfield.
With the ball, for Bangladesh, Trisna starred with the ball as she scalped 3-35 in her 10 overs. Alam bowled well in tandem with Trisna and the right arm speedster accounted for 2-28 in her nine overs, including one maiden. Right-arm medium pacer Ritu Moni also chipped in with two wickets conceding 36 runs off her 9.5 overs, including one maiden. The spin twins of Salma Khatun and Rumana Ahmed struck with one wicket apiece.
Outstanding efforts from Bangladesh to restrict South Africa to just 207 Runs.
Can they script a historic chase in their World Cup debut match?#CWC22 #TeamSouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/ALOWklwV0y
— Female Cricket #CWC22 (@imfemalecricket) March 5, 2022
Bangladesh need 208 runs to win. Their highest successful run chase was 211-9 against Pakistan in 2019. Can the Bangla Tigresses roar and get the better of Proteas? Stay tuned to find out.
Highest successful chases by 🇧🇩 Bangladesh in Women’s ODIs-
211 vs 🇵🇰 Pakistan, 2019
202 vs 🇵🇰 Pakistan, 2021
145 vs 🇮🇪 Ireland, 2017Can they chase 208 against 🇿🇦SA today?#CWC22
— Female Cricket #CWC22 (@imfemalecricket) March 5, 2022
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I am a former cricketer having represented Mumbai University at All India University level. I was a part of MCA probables for the U-19 and U-23 age group. I have been an avid cricket writer for the last five years. Currently I am pursuing my Ph.D from IIT Bombay.
