Unbeaten opening centuries from Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits saw the Proteas cruise into the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup semi-finals with a thrilling 10-wicket win over Bangladesh in the final pool match at Newlands in Cape Town on Tuesday night.
Wolvaardt hit 66 off 56 balls (7×4; 1×6) and the Brits hit 50 off 51 (4×4) as they easily chased down the 114 runs needed to win set by Bangladesh batting first, with 13 balls to spare.
The Proteas have now set up an interesting semi-final against England at the same ground on Friday evening, while tournament favorites and defending champions Australia will take on India in the other semi on Thursday.
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However, it was not a comfortable chase as the innings got off to a nervous start as Wolvaardt and the Brits could only score nine from the first four overs.
Wolvaardt then decided to go forward as she went down the wicket and followed Nahida Akter over long on for the first six, while the fourth stroke that bounced off the bowling of Jahanara Alam looked to be the end of the powerplay. with them on 26/0.
The Englishman was alive and well in the next few innings as he was twice dropped by Bangladesh keeper Shamima Sultana as he twice failed to catch him as he came out of the ground, as the Proteas reached their halfway point on 43/0.
The Proteas needed to pick up the rate and they did as the next five overs went for 40 runs as both batters finally found the boundary, with back to back fours from the Brits in the 14th over helping the cause.
The 16th over was then decisive for the Proteas as back to back boundaries from Wolvaardt saw him bring up his half-century, while the Brits received another lifeline as he was dropped to four as the over for 16 runs.
Brits then brought up his half-century at the start of the 18th over, before Wolvaardt deservedly finished the game with back to back boundaries to finish in style.
In the first innings, Bangladesh got off to a poor start as Murshida Khatun fell for a sixth-ball duck, caught by Nadine de Klerk off the bowling of Marizanne Kapp, while Shamima Sultana (11) was caught by the Brits off the bowling of Shabnim Ismail. with them 22/2 in six overs.
Sobhana Mostary (27) and captain Nigar Sultana (30) tried to rebuild with a 33-run third wicket partnership, taking the side to the halfway mark of the innings at 41/2.
Proteas star spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba finally made a breakthrough, bowling Mostary through the wicket at the start of the 13th over with Bangladesh at 55/3.
Sultana and Shorna Akter (11) then combined for a 25-run stand, before Akter was bowled by a good yorker from Ayabonga Khaka, followed by Sultana dragged to his own stumps off the bowling of Kapp, with them at 84/5 in 17 overs .
Some good late striking from Nahida Akter, 15no off 11 balls, then gave Bangladesh a slight boost at the end of the innings as they finished on 113/6.
Kapp finished with figures of 2/17 and Khaka with 2/21 was the pick of the bowlers for the hosts.