South Africa Edge Bangladesh by 3 Wickets in Nail-Biting Guwahati Finish
In one of the most heart-stopping finishes of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 so far, South Africa Women snatched a thrilling three-wicket victory over Bangladesh Women in Match 14 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on October 13, holding their nerve to chase down 233 with just three balls remaining. Bangladesh’s gritty 232 for 6, powered by a maiden ODI century from opener Dilara Akter, set a stern test on a turning track, but South Africa’s lower order, led by Chloe Tryon’s unbeaten 37, clawed back from 190 for 7 to seal the deal at 235 for 7 in 49.3 overs. This pulsating win marked South Africa’s second on the trot, boosting their net run rate to +0.912 and keeping semi-final dreams alive, while Bangladesh, despite their batting heroics, tasted a second defeat, their NRR slipping to -0.456 as the pressure of hosting bites deeper.
The evening clash, under floodlights with a partisan crowd of 15,000 roaring for the Tigresses, showcased the tournament’s growing parity—Bangladesh’s spinners nearly defending a par score, only for South Africa’s resilience to prevail. Captain Sune Luus’s composed leadership in the death overs turned potential heartbreak into triumph, evoking memories of their 2022 semi-final heroics. For Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana, the loss stung: her side’s fielding lapses and inability to strike in clusters proved costly. As the teams shook hands amid hugs and high-fives, the World Cup’s narrative thickened—South Africa ascendant, Bangladesh resilient but rueful ahead of Australia.
Luus’s toss win led to an immediate insert, banking on dew to aid the chase and Bangladesh’s occasional top-order wobbles. South Africa’s lineup blended firepower and finesse: Laura Wolvaardt, Tazmin Brits, Anneke Bosch, Luus (c), Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Nonkululeko Mlaba, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, and Masabata Klaas. The benching of Sutherland for Mlaba’s spin added variety on a pitch expected to grip. Bangladesh, buoyed by their upset win over Pakistan, fielded: Dilara Akter, Fargana Hoque, Nigar Sultana (c & wk), Ritu Moni, Fahima Khatun, Nahida Akter, Lata Mondal, Marufa Akter, Rabeya Khan, Sultana Khatun, and Jahanara Alam. Young leggie Rabeya’s inclusion targeted South Africa’s middle order, while Marufa’s pace promised early wickets.
Umpires Paul Reiffel and Jacqueline Williams signaled play amid chants of “Tigress! Tigress!”, the outfield lush under the Assam humidity. Bangladesh’s openers, Dilara and Fargana, faced Kapp’s probing swing, setting the stage for a contest that would swing like a pendulum.
Bangladesh’s innings blossomed into a tale of redemption and resolve, their batters adapting to the slow, low bounce with sweeps and deflections. Dilara Akter, opening in place of the injured Sharmin, wasted no time: she flicked Klaas off her pads for four in the third over, her compact stance belying nerves. Fargana joined the fray, nurgling Kapp through the slips for a boundary, but fell early—trapped lbw by a Khaka inswinger in the eighth over for 10 off 18, the ball nipping back to hit leg stump. At 28 for 1, Bangladesh steadied as Nigar Sultana arrived, her skipper’s poise calming the flux.
The second-wicket alliance of 67 off 85 balls between Dilara and Nigar was a masterclass in rotation: Dilara swept Mlaba fine for four, her first ODI fifty looming at 45 off 52, while Nigar whipped de Klerk through midwicket. Drinks at 95 for 1 saw the required rate comfortable, but South Africa struck back post-interval. Luus brought on Kapp, whose cutter deceived Nigar—edging to Wolvaardt at slip for 28 off 41, a tentative poke ending the stand. Ritu Moni entered aggressively, pulling Khaka for six over square leg, her intent pushing to 128 for 2 by the 25th over.
Dilara’s dominance defined the middle phase. Reaching her fifty off 62 balls with a driven four off Mlaba, she targeted the spinners ruthlessly: a slog-swept six off Tryon’s off-breaks cleared deep midwicket, and a reverse paddle against Klaas raced to third man. Partnering Ritu, they amassed 72 in 78 balls for the third wicket, Ritu’s 35 featuring crisp covers drives. But the acceleration invited danger: Ritu holed out to long-on off Gardner—no, Mlaba’s arm ball bowled her at 200 for 3 in the 37th, the googly variant spinning back in.
Fahima Khatun joined Dilara, and the duo ignited: Fahima’s lofted cover six off Kapp, Dilara’s straight drive off Khaka. Dilara’s century—her maiden in ODIs—arrived off 104 balls in the 42nd, celebrated with a helmet-raise to the Bangladesh dugout, her knock of 103 including 10 fours and two sixes a coming-of-age story. Yet, joy turned to jeopardy: Dilara ran herself out at 218 for 4 in the 44th, a mix-up with Fahima seeing Kapp’s direct throw find the stumps—103 off 105, her exit a gut-punch.
Nahida Akter (12) scratched before slicing Klaas to point, but Fahima (28*) and Lata Mondal (15*) rallied, adding 14 in the last three overs amid dots. Marufa’s not-out 0 watched as Bangladesh posted 232 for 6, boosted by 22 extras. South Africa’s bowlers toiled—Kapp 1-42, Khaka 1-48, Mlaba 2-39—but the economy of 4.64 flattered; Dilara later beamed, “This ton for the team; we set a total to fight.”
South Africa’s chase ignited with familiar flair, openers Wolvaardt and Brits feasting on the older ball. Wolvaardt, elegance personified, drove Jahanara through covers for four in the first over, her footwork impeccable. Brits, the dasher, pulled Marufa for six, her follow-through explosive. The powerplay yielded 52 for no loss, Rabeya’s introduction met with sweeps—Wolvaardt’s reverse off the leggie bisecting point and short third. At 78 for 0 after 15 overs, needing 155 off 210, South Africa purred.
But Bangladesh’s spinners spun a web. Sultana Khatun, the offie, castled Brits with a drifter that turned square—lbw for 32 off 40, the review scant comfort. Anneke Bosch joined Wolvaardt, but Rabeya struck twice: Bosch stumped off a wide googly for 8, Wolvaardt edging a quicker one to slip for 44 off 58—122 for 3 in the 25th, the required rate creeping to 5.50. Luus and Tryon rebuilt cautiously, Luus nurgling singles, Tryon sweeping Nahida for four. Their 45-run stand off 62 balls eased pressure, Luus reaching 25 with a flicked boundary off Fahima.
Momentum teetered at 167 for 3 after 35 overs, 66 needed off 90. De Klerk’s arrival sparked: she lofted Rabeya over extra cover for six, but holed out to long-off off Khatun for 18 off 20—190 for 4 in the 40th. Jafta followed, bowled by Marufa’s yorker for 2, then Mlaba skied Lata to midwicket for 0—190 for 6 in 42 overs, panic rippling. Kapp’s run-out at 198 for 7— a direct hit from Nigar off her own bowling—left 35 off 48, Tryon on strike with Klaas.
Enter the heroism. Tryon, promoted for the chase, unleashed: she reverse-swept Rabeya for four, then slogged Jahanara over cow corner for six—her unbeaten 37 off 40, including four fours and a six, a captain’s clutch. Klaas (14 off 22) supported with gritty defense, surviving lbw shouts. Needing 12 off 24, Tryon’s pulled four off Marufa, then a scampered two. At 225 for 7 after 48 overs, eight wanted off 12 balls, Bangladesh’s death bowling faltered—wides and leg-byes adding to the drama. Klaas’s single off the third ball of the 49th, followed by Tryon’s winning dab through point off Khatun in the 49.3rd—South Africa home, hearts in mouths till the end.
Bangladesh’s fielding, with three drops, cost dear; Rabeya’s 2-46 and Khatun’s 3-52 heroic, but extras (18) stung. Luus, Player of the Match for 28, said, “Chloe’s heart won it; we backed our depth.” Tryon added, “Nerves? We thrive on them.” Nigar lamented, “Dilara’s ton deserved more; fielding let us down.”
The fallout reshaped standings. South Africa’s back-to-back wins vault them to third, their chase under pressure a semi-final audition—Tryon’s finishing evoking Perry’s poise. Wolvaardt’s 44 extended her streak, while spinners Mlaba and Kapp loom as X-factors. England and Australia lead, but the Proteas’ grit closes gaps.
Bangladesh, hosts under siege, cling to Dilara’s breakthrough—her 103 the tournament’s third ton—but losses mount pressure. Spinners Rabeya and Khatun shine (combined 5-98), yet top-order support wanes. Facing Australia next, survival demands perfection; their 2023 upsets fuel belief, but Guwahati’s ghosts linger.
This thriller wasn’t just a win; it was women’s cricket at its rawest—Bangladesh’s fightback nearly toppling a giant, South Africa’s resolve snatching victory from jaws. As the World Cup heats, such epics promise glory for the unbreakable.
