Akther spins Bangladesh to victory at Willowmoore Park

South Africa was in the game for much of the contest, thanks to opener Anneke Bosch.

December 7, 2023

Lebohang Pita 1 minute read

South Africa openers Taznim Brits and Anneke Bosch. Photo: Cricket South Africa.

Sixteen-year-old leg-spinner Shorna Akther claimed a stunning maiden five-wicket haul to inspire Bangladesh to a 13-run victory against South Africa in the first match of their three-match T20 series at Willowmoore Park on December 3.

Defending 149, the all-rounder, who was part of Bangladesh Women’s U19 side that played in the ICC Women’s U19 World Cup in January, took 5/28 to trigger a middle-order collapse as the hosts slipped from 123 for three to 136 for eight.

South Africa was in the game for much of the contest, thanks to opener Anneke Bosch. Promoted to open with stand-in captain Taznim Brits, in the absence of skipper Laura Woolvardt, she struck 67 runs off 49 balls as she shared a 69-run partnership with Brits, who scored 30 off 26 balls.

The hosts needed 41 runs off the last 24 balls with Bosch still on the field and seven wickets in hand but the momentum changed in Bangladesh’s favour in the 18th over after Shorna took two wickets.

The fans came out in their numbers to support the Proteas.

The starting line-ups of South Africa and Bangladesh.

She first dismissed Bosch and had Nondumiso Shangase stumped to leave the Proteas needing 26 off the last two overs.

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In the 19th over, Nahida Akter got rid of Eliz-mari Marx as she only conceded two runs in the over.

Needing 24 off the last six balls, Shorna added two more wickets, as the South Africa lower order struggled, to finish the match with a maiden international fifer and hand Bangladesh their second T20 win in 12 matches.

Karli Gouws, Theresa Gouws, Monique Gouws and Fred Botha.

Earlier, a South Africa bowling unit that missed the experienced Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka and Naidine de Klerk, really struggled and was left exposed as Murshida Khatum and Nigar Sultana tore them apart.

Khatun’s unbeaten 62 and captain Sultana’s 34 off 21 saw Bangladesh post a competitive 149 as they chose to bat first.

The batters scored 45 runs in the last four overs as Sultana upped the ante with a knock that included six fours while Khatun hit six boundaries and a maximum in her 59-ball knock to hand Bangladesh a one-nil lead in the three-match series.