In Visakhapatnam, on October 13 (NationPress), Marizanne Kapp (56) and Chloe Tryon (62) shone with their half-centuries, eclipsing the commendable performances of Sharmin Akhter (50) and Shorna Akter (51*) as the South African team triumphed over Bangladesh by three wickets with just three balls remaining in a gripping match during the Women's ODI World Cup.

When the Proteas needed eight runs from the final six balls, Nadine de Klerk, who had been dropped at long-off by Shorna in the 49th over, clinched the match for South Africa by hitting a four and a six in rapid succession. This was reminiscent of her decisive performance against India in their previous encounter at the same Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium.

Bangladesh chose to bat first, with Sharmin Akhter, who was included for this match, scoring 50 runs off 77 balls (6x4) to set a solid base. Meanwhile, Shorna Akter delivered a stellar late-game performance with an unbeaten 51 runs off just 35 balls (3x4, 3x6), marking the fastest fifty by a female player from Bangladesh. Ritu Moni contributed 19 runs off eight balls, helping Bangladesh recover from a slow start to finish at a commendable 232/6 in their 50 overs.

Despite the strong start from Bangladesh, it was the explosive batting from Kapp, Tryon, and de Klerk, coupled with missed opportunities from Bangladesh's fielders, that enabled South Africa to reach 235/7 in 49.3 overs, securing their third consecutive victory and climbing to third place behind Australia and England.

While chasing a target of 233, South Africa's opening batsmen faced difficulties against the disciplined Bangladesh bowling attack, which maintained pressure early on.

Tazmin Brits, who had previously scored a century against New Zealand, fell for a golden duck for the second time in a row. Skipper Laura Wolvaardt managed to score 31 runs from 56 balls, forming a partnership of 55 runs for the second wicket with Anneke Bosch (28). However, Wolvaardt was run out while attempting a second run, and South Africa's innings faltered as they slipped to 78/5 by the 23rd over.

Marizanne Kapp stepped up to stabilize the innings, forming an 85-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Chloe Tryon, as they calmly tackled the pressure exerted by the Bangladesh bowlers.

Kapp finished with 56 runs off 71 balls, reaching her half-century in 67 balls before being caught by Shorna Akter off Nahida Akter, leaving the score at 163/6. Chloe Tryon, who had a moment of luck during her innings, brought her fifty up in 64 balls, joining Nadine de Klerk, who had been instrumental in their previous win against India.

Tryon relieved some pressure by hitting a four and a six in consecutive balls off Rabeya Khan, and celebrated her fifty with another four, bringing the equation down to 37 runs needed from 36 balls.

However, Tryon was run out just three balls later while attempting a quick single, courtesy of a precise throw from Ritu Moni. It was left to Nadine de Klerk to guide South Africa home. She struck two fours in the 47th over off Fahima Khatun, taking the Proteas to 212/7, requiring 21 runs from the final three overs. Despite the challenging dew conditions, Bangladesh's bowlers maintained pressure until de Klerk clinched victory with a six.

Earlier, Bangladesh's innings was marked by a painfully slow approach as they crawled to 100/2 in 30 overs. They managed to reach 150 runs in 40 overs before finishing strong with 82 runs in the last 10 overs to achieve a respectable total.

Fargana Hoque (30) and Rubya Haider (25) took their time to build a slow partnership of 53 runs over 16 overs, while the South African bowlers effectively restricted their scoring by taking pace off the ball in the overcast conditions. Both were dismissed within 20 runs of each other.

Sharmin Akhter (50) and skipper Nigar Sultana Joty continued to build momentum, adding 77 runs for the third wicket over 15 overs. Bangladesh reached the 150 mark in the 40th over.

Joty scored 32 runs off 42 balls before being caught brilliantly by Laura Wolvaardt off Mlaba, just when she was poised to accelerate the score.

Sharmin achieved her fifty off 74 balls, striking six fours, but was run out three balls later after a disastrous mix-up with Shorna.

Shorna remained at the crease and provided the finishing touch to the Bangladesh innings, scoring an impressive 51 not out off 35 balls, while Ritu Moni played a quick cameo of 19 not out off eight balls, including three boundaries.

Shorna hit the first six of the innings, miscuing a shot over long-on off Chloe Tryon, following it up with a perfectly executed sweep for four off Mlaba. She then hammered two more sixes off Tumi Sekhukhune and struck another four over the keeper's head, concluding the 46th over with Bangladesh scoring 18 runs.

Final 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) lost to South Africa 235/7 in 49.3 overs (Marizanne Kapp 56, Chloe Tryon 62, Nadine de Klerk 37 not out; Nahida Akter 2-44, Ritu Moni 1-29) by three wickets.