South Africa’s Nadine de Klerk celebrates with team mates after scoring the winning runs during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup match between India and South Africa at ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, on October 9, 2025.
| Photo Credit: K.R. Deepak
South Africa, fresh from the morale-boosting win against India, will look to build on the momentum when it takes on a persistent Bangladesh in the Women’s ODI World Cup at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Monday.
The Proteas, who were humiliated by a 10-wicket thrashing by England in their opening match, have bounced back in sublime fashion, with a dominant victory against New Zealand followed by a nail-biter triumph over India on Thursday.
While Richa Ghosh made a mockery of the versatile South African bowling order, they still managed to strike when it mattered. Proteas’ batting muscle makes them automatic favourites against Bangladesh, a side that’s not managed to roar as loudly with the bat as it has with the ball.
Medium pacer Marufa Akter has made inroads with the new ball, while left-arm spinner Nahida Akter and the legspin duo of Fahima Khatun and Rabeya Khan have largely kept a tight leash on the opposition.
That said, Marufa’s lack of endurance to sustain the bite she manages early is a concern and something South Africa will be eager to exploit. The Proteas’ famed top-order — Laura Wolvaardt, Tazmin Brits and Marizanne Kapp — will hope to have a good game, with their inconsistencies often landing the side in a pickle.
It remains to be seen whether seam-bowling all-rounder Annerie Dercksen finally gets a game in this campaign.
Bangladesh will want to see better returns from Nigar Sultana Joty, who has had a rather quiet run in the showpiece. Performances from Shorna Akter, Rubya Haider and Sobhana Mostary have been encouraging. Partnerships are the need of the hour for the side, against a lethal Protean attack led by Kapp and Nonkululeko Mlaba.
Published – October 12, 2025 07:47 pm IST
