ICC Women’s T20 World Cup: South Africa edge out Bangladesh to keep semi-final hopes alive

No 3 batter Annerie Dercksen anchored the Proteas Women's succesful run chase against Bangldesh on Sunday with a run-a-ball 45 as they reached the target of 117 with four balls to spare at Lord's.

The Proteas Women's opening bowlers proved too hot to handle for Bangladesh, but the South African batters were made to sweat before eking out a nervy four-wicket victory in their final ICC Women's T20 World Cup Group A match at Lord's on Sunday.

A fourth successive victory in the tournament in Wales and England lifted South Africa into second place in the group on eight points, slightly improving their net run-rate and strengthening their hopes of reaching the semi-finals. However, their fate still rested on the outcome of the day's other Group A clash between unbeaten group leaders Australia and India, also at Lord's.

Marizanne Kapp set the tone with the very first ball of the match, claiming her 100th wicket in T20 Internationals after clean bowling Juairiya Ferdous, with Bangladesh having won the toss and elected to bat.

The fiery Shabnim Ismail then trapped Taj Nehar plumb in front to become the leading wicket-taker in ICC Women's T20 World Cup history with 49 scalps.

Bangladesh were reeling at 23/2 at the end of the powerplay and struggled to find the boundary as they limped to 47/2 after 10 overs. Kapp was outstanding, returning figures of 1/9 from her four overs. A 50-run partnership between Sobhana Mostary and Sharmin Akhter steadied the innings before left-arm spinner Nkululeko Mlaba broke the stand in the 14th over, bowling Akhter for 22.

Ismail finished with superb figures of 1/17, while all-rounder Nadine de Klerk removed Mostary for 42. Mlaba claimed a second wicket to stem a late surge, although Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty struck an unbeaten 32 off 20 balls, including four fours and a six, to lift her side to 117/5.

South Africa's chase began in disastrous fashion when skipper Laura Wolvaardt was bowled by the first ball of the innings from all-rounder Marufa Akter, mirroring Bangladesh's own start.

Despite the modest target, nerves were evident before in-form opener Tazmin Brits and Annerie Dercksen steadied the innings. Dercksen's towering six in the fourth over eased the pressure as the Proteas reached 40/1 at the end of the powerplay.

Brits was unable to repeat her century heroics against the Netherlands, falling for 20, before an ill-judged reverse sweep from Dané van Niekerk handed Bangladesh another breakthrough, leaving South Africa 59/3 after 10 overs.

Dercksen remained composed, anchoring the chase with a run-a-ball 45 that included two fours and two sixes. But when she edged behind in the 15th over, with 31 still required from 36 deliveries, Bangladesh sensed an unlikely upset.

Boundaries dried up, the required run rate crept upwards and Kapp was run out as the pressure mounted. Nadine de Klerk contributed a valuable 15 before falling in the penultimate over, leaving South Africa needing five runs from the last six balls.

A streaky boundary from Chloe Tryon, followed by a single, finally took the Proteas to 118/6 and sealed a hard-fought victory that kept their World Cup dream alive.

Mostary 42 (42), Joty 32 (20).  Kapp 1/9, Ismail 1/17, Mlaba 2/22, De Klerk 1/17.

Dercksen 45 (45), Brits 20 (24), Kapp 16 (21), De Klerk 15 (14). Nahida 2/24, Marufa 1/23, Ritu 1/14, Shanjida 1/28