Visakhapatnam, Oct 13 (NationPress) Outstanding half-centuries from Sharmin Akhter and Shorna Akter, combined with a dynamic cameo from Ritu Moni, propelled Bangladesh to a commendable score of 232/6 in their 50 overs match against South Africa during the Women’s ODI World Cup at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Monday.

Sharmin Akhter put up a solid performance, scoring 50 runs off 77 deliveries (6x4), establishing a strong foundation. Meanwhile, Shorna Akter finished with an impressive 51 not out off just 35 balls (3x4, 3x6), adding crucial runs towards the end. Ritu Moni contributed a quick 19 runs from eight balls, as Bangladesh, despite a slow start, managed to conclude their innings with a respectable total.

Bangladesh opted to bat first and faced a sluggish start, reaching only 100/2 in 30 overs, with Sharmin Akhter and skipper Nigar Sultana Joty stabilizing the innings during the middle overs.

Fargana Hoque (30) and Rubya Haider (23) struggled early on, as Bangladesh crawled to 28 runs without loss in the first 10 overs of the mandatory Power-play, managing to strike only three boundaries.

The South African bowlers maintained pressure by keeping a tight line and exploiting the overcast conditions, making it challenging for the Bangladesh batters.

Fargana Hoque and Rubya Haider formed a 53-run opening partnership over 16 overs, but both fell within 20 runs of each other. Hoque was dismissed lbw by left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba, while Haider was caught by Nadine de Klerk off Chloe Tryon.

Sharmin Akter (50) and skipper Nigar Sultana Joty built on the innings with a 77-run partnership for the third wicket over approximately 15 overs, leading Bangladesh to 150 by the 40th over.

Sharmin Akter completed her fifty off 74 balls, but was run out following a mix-up with her captain. Joty scored 32 off 42 balls before being caught brilliantly by Laura Wolvaardt off Mlaba, just as she was looking to accelerate the scoring.

At that point, Bangladesh found themselves at 164/4. Shorna Akter then injected some urgency into the innings, hitting the first six of the match with a miscue over long-on off Tryon, following up with a well-executed sweep for four off Mlaba. She launched another six off Tumi Sekhukhune and added more runs through a thick-edged four over the keeper’s head. A total of 18 runs were scored in the 46th over, which became Bangladesh's most productive over.

Despite losing two quick wickets at 195 with Sobhana Mostary (9) and Rabeya Khan (0) falling in consecutive deliveries, Ritu Moni struck a hat-trick of boundaries off Marizanne Kapp, along with another six from Shorna, helping the team reach a competitive total.

Brief scores:

Bangladesh 232/6 in 50 overs (Sharmin Akhter 50, Shorna Akter 51 not out, Nigar Sultana Joty 32, Ritu Moni 19 not out; Nonkululeko Mlaba 2-42) against South Africa.