Overview: A dramatic chase at Visakhapatnam
In a courtroom-testing run-chase under lights at the Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, South Africa rode a fearless rescue by Chloe Tryon and Marizanne Kapp to beat Bangladesh by three wickets in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025. With Bangladesh posting 232/6 after a brutal innings from 18-year-old Shorna Akter, the Proteas were staring at 78/5 at one stage, but a stubborn alliance between Tryon (62) and Kapp (56) steadied the ship and set up a dramatic finish.
Bangladesh’s power surge: Shorna Akter’s blitz and a 232 total
Bangladesh opened the innings with intent in swinging conditions, and Fargana Hoque contributed crucial boundaries early on. The youngster Shorna Akter then delivered the fastest fifty of the tournament, reaching 50 off just 34 balls and lifting Bangladesh’s score into a competitive realm. After a promising start, Bangladesh’s middle order tried to accelerate, with Sharmin Akhter and captain Nigar Sultana Joty pushing the score along to 150 with ten overs remaining.
South Africa’s bowlers fought back with discipline and precision, strangling the run-rate and taking key wickets at crucial moments. Joty’s attempt to accelerate was thwarted by a sharp Mlaba catch and well-timed strikes that left Bangladesh reeling at 164/4. Shorna’s emergence with a late surge gave the innings a flourish, but the momentum shifted as Ritu Moni and Rabeya Khan added late fireworks before Shorna fell on 50, run out in the final overs. Bangladesh finished 232/6, a score built on tempo, but one that proved defendable only with a tight bowling plan.
South Africa respond: Early wobble, then Tryon and Kapp take charge
South Africa’s reply began shakily, with Tazmin Brits dismissed for a golden duck. Captain Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch then steadied the ship by forging a 55-run stand, but a miscommunication ended Wolvaardt’s innings when she was run out for 31, dragging South Africa to 58/2 after 15 overs. The fall of wickets triggered a mini-collapse to 78/5 as Bangladesh’s spinners gained traction, leaving the chase in a precarious position.
That moment pivoted the game: Tryon, with 62, and Kapp, with 56, stitched together 85 runs to revive South Africa’s prospects. Kapp’s patient half-century was built in the face of pressure, and she struck Shorna for six at the start of the 40th over to lift the tempo. Tryon backed her up, and the pair combined to pull South Africa back into contention, turning the chase into a compelling duel between bat and ball.
Narrow misses and a late flourish
As the pair built the partnership, South Africa inched closer to the target, but a pivotal moment arrived when Kor Kapp was dismissed, mistiming a slog for 56. With South Africa at 163/6, Tryon continued to hammer boundary after boundary, stepping up when the game mattered most. Her 62 included a flurry of boundaries in the 44th over, but a direct hit from Ritu Moni ended Tryon’s vigil just 37 short of the finish line.
De Klerk, unbeaten on 37, then joined Klaas, and they navigated the final overs to seal the win with three balls to spare. De Klerk finished the chase with composure, turning a tense barrier into a successful finish for South Africa.
Key takeaways
- South Africa’s resilience: A fragile start gave way to a match-defining partnership that demonstrated depth and composure in crunch moments.
- Tryon and Kapp’s leadership: Both players anchored the chase, with Tryon’s 62 and Kapp’s 56 underpinning the recovery and the eventual victory.
- Bangladesh’s fight: Shorna Akter’s explosive 50 and the finishing innings highlighted Bangladesh’s potential in this World Cup, even as they fell short.
Conclusion: SA’s contest-winning moment
The victory keeps South Africa in the hunt for a deep World Cup run, underscoring the team’s capability to weather early setbacks and emerge victorious in tight finishes. Nadine de Klerk’s finisher’s touch—unbeaten on 37—proved crucial, capping a memorable chase that will be remembered for the grit of Tryon and Kapp in Visakhapatnam.
