Visakhapatnam, October 13, 2025 – South Africa women edged out Bangladesh by three wickets in a nail-biting contest at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup (WCWC) 2025, marking their third consecutive victory in the tournament.
The win lifts South Africa to third place in the points table, while Bangladesh, despite their spirited fight, suffered their third straight defeat.
Opting to bat first, Bangladesh began cautiously, but neither opener managed to convert their start. At the halfway mark, they were steady at 73/2 before captain Nigar Sultana Joty injected momentum with an attacking cameo alongside Sharmin Akhter. Shorna Akhter then played the knock of the innings, smashing a quickfire 51 off 35 balls — the fastest fifty for Bangladesh in Women’s ODIs. Her late surge powered the team to a competitive 232, with 57 runs coming in the final five overs.
In reply, South Africa had a stuttering start as Bangladesh struck early. Tazmin Brits fell for a duck, and skipper Laura Wolvaardt’s run-out further dented their momentum. From 58/1, South Africa slipped to 78/5, with Bangladesh’s spinners tightening their grip. However, the experienced duo of Marizanne Kapp and Chloe Tryon rescued the innings with an 85-run stand. Tryon’s counter-attacking 62 from 69 balls earned her the Player of the Match award, while Kapp provided the composure the Proteas needed under pressure.
Bangladesh still had chances — Tryon was dropped on 46, and later Nadine De Klerk got a reprieve that proved costly. The dropped catches turned out decisive as De Klerk, alongside Masabata Klaas, guided South Africa home with a few balls to spare.
After the match, South African captain Laura Wolvaardt admitted the win was closer than expected but praised her team’s composure. She credited Bangladesh for their spirited bowling and fielding efforts. Meanwhile, Nigar Sultana Joty expressed pride in her young team’s resilience despite the heartbreaking loss, urging them to stay confident for upcoming fixtures.
With this victory, South Africa continue their surge in the WCWC 2025 standings, while Bangladesh, though winless, earned admiration for their fight and flair. Their next challenge will be against Australia on October 16 in Visakhapatnam, while South Africa head to Colombo to face Sri Lanka on October 17 — both matches promising more thrilling cricket ahead.