An all-round performance by the bowlers and batters led by Laura Wolvaardt (70*) saw the Momentum Proteas beat Bangladesh by six wickets and achieve their Cricket South Africa (CSA) Women’s ODI series whitewash target when they met at Mangaung Oval on Monday. It is the first time that the hosts have accomplished such a feat in a five-match series.
Shabnim Ismail (3/17) and Marizanne Kapp (2/21) once again showed their experience, leading the bowling attack from the front as they took five wickets between them to restrict the visitors to 166/9 at the end of their allotted overs. Two run outs and a scalp each from Masabata Klaas (1/30) and Raisibe Ntozakhe (1/43) ensured that Bangladesh did not move over their 3.32 run rate.
A much improved batting performance and several dropped catches saw half-centuries scored by captain Rumana Ahmed (74 off 123 balls) and Shamima Sultana (53 off 91) as the tourists amassed their highest team total in the series so far. The pair also shared an 85-run, fourth-wicket partnership that frustrated the South African bowlers before Kapp finally struck in the 36th over with the wicket of opener Sultana. It will be a positive that the tourists can take forward as the tour moves into a three-match T20 series starting this Thursday.
South Africa’s Lizelle Lee and Wolvaardt once again got their side’s batting reply off to a strong start with a 79-run opening stand. Lee missed out on her third series half-ton when she was removed for 44 by Khadija Tul Kubra in the 17th over. The bowler struck a second time in the over, dispatching wicket-keeper-batsman Trisha Chetty for a duck, leaving the hosts on 79/2 when the skipper Dané van Niekerk walked in. She and Wolvaardt revived the chase with a 59-run partnership that ended when the captain was stumped for 29 in the 29th over off her counterpart Ahmed.
Tul Kubra then made quick work of the explosive Chloe Tryon (9), who was also stumped before reaching double figures. Kapp was unbeaten on nine runs as she accompanied Wolvaardt over the line, helping her side reach victory with 90 balls to spare.
Tul Kubra was the pick of the bowlers, returning the best bowling figures of the series for her side with 3/37 in her 10-over spell.
The T20 series begins in Kimberley on Thursday, 17 May.