Image Credit- Getty
Shorna Akther, 16, wrote a magnificent new chapter in
Bangladeshi women’s cricket history when they defeated South Africa in the
opening Twenty20 International in Benoni. As South Africa fell from 123 for 3
to 136 for 8, the legspin-bowling all-rounder, who was defending 149, claimed
her first five-for to set off a middle-order collapse in the final five overs.
In the 12 Twenty20 Internationals that they have played, this is just the
second time that Bangladesh has defeated South Africa. The last ten games had
been won by South Africa.
For the most part of the pursuit, South Africa was
competitive because of Anneke Bosch. Normally ranked No. 3, she was elevated to
start alongside Tazmin Brits because to the absence of Laura Wolvaardt, the
newly designated captain, who was forced to miss the opening game due to the
WBBL final on Saturday. Bosch hit 30 runs off of 26 balls and put up a rapid 67
off 49 balls, sharing a fast 69-run stand with the British.
With Bosch still batting and seven wickets in hand,
South Africa needed 41 from the final 24 balls, but in the eighteenth over,
Shorna struck again, first dismissing Bosch and then forcing Bangladeshi
captain Nigar Sultana to stump Nondumiso Shangase in a two-run over. Today,
South Africa needs 26 runs from the final 12 balls.
Nahida Akter handed up just two runs while also
getting rid of Eliz-mari Marx, who was making his debut, in the next over. It
was always going to be difficult for the lower order to reach 24 in six balls,
and Shorna’s two further wickets in the last over saw him end with 5 for 28.
Bangladesh chose to bat first, and Nigar’s blistering
34 off 21 not out and Murshida Khatun’s undefeated 62 helped them reach a
respectable score. In the end, the pair’s 45 runs in the last four overs proved
to be very significant for South Africa.
Before the three-match ODI series kicks off in East
London on December 16, the final two Twenty20 Internationals will take place in
Kimberley on December 6 and 8.