After losing to Bangladesh by 13 runs in the opening Twenty20 International at Willowmoore Park in Benoni, South Africa travels to Kimberley one down in the series. After electing to bat first, the visitors had earlier scored 149 for two, leaving the Proteas at 136 for eight at the end. Against South Africa, Bangladesh has won its first T20I match in South Africa.
Stand-in Protea captain Tazmin Brits voiced her unhappiness with the outcome in the post-match interview. South Africa’s batting lineup was led by Anneke Bosch and Brits, who reached the fifty-run milestone in the sixth over with relative ease.
In the absence of recently appointed full-time captain Laura Wolvaardt, who will return to the squad after assisting the Adelaide Strikers in their triumph over the Brisbane Heat in the Women’s Big Bash League final in Australia, Brits was in charge. When a strong drive from a British player struck Bangladeshi fast bowler Marufa Akter in her lower left thigh at the start of the fourth over, with South Africa on 19 without a loss, she collapsed in excruciating pain. The 18-year-old ran back to her mark with the ball in hand after receiving some treatment.
Bangladesh finally made a breakthrough in the tenth over, but not before South Africa lost their first wicket with the score at 69. When Britz failed to reach the pitch of a Rabeya Khan delivery, Sobhana Mostary caught him for 30 runs (26b 3×4 1×6).
Following a blundering sweep by Annerie Dercksen (1, 5b), it was back-to-back wickets for the visitors (72 for 2) and Fahima Khatun took her first wicket of the tour. In the fifteenth over, South Africa’s 100 was ahead (100 for 2). In the same over, Bosch’s third T20I 50 (41 b) was recorded.