South Africa women survived a tense chase to defeat Bangladesh by 3 wickets with just 3 balls remaining in the 14th match of the ICC Women’s World Cup at Visakhapatnam on October 13, 2025. Chasing 233, South Africa stumbled to 78/5 before a fighting 85-run partnership between Marizanne Kapp (56) and Chloe Tryon (62) revived their hopes. When both fell, Nadine de Klerk held her nerve with an unbeaten 37 off 29 balls to guide her team home and keep their World Cup campaign on track.

Match Scorecard

Team	Score	Overs	Wickets	Result
Bangladesh Women	232	50.0	6	Lost by 3 wickets
South Africa Women	235	49.3	7	Won by 3 wickets

Top Performers

Player	Team	Role	Performance
Shorna Akter	Bangladesh	Batter	51* (35 balls, 3 fours, 3 sixes)
Chloe Tryon	South Africa	All-rounder	62 (69 balls, 5 fours)
Marizanne Kapp	South Africa	All-rounder	56 (71 balls, 3 fours, 1 six)
Nadine de Klerk	South Africa	All-rounder	37* (29 balls, 4 fours, 1 six)
Sharmin Akhter	Bangladesh	Batter	50 (77 balls, 6 fours)
Nahida Akter	Bangladesh	Bowler	2/44 (9.3 overs)

Key Moments

• Early Shock for SA: Tazmin Brits dismissed for a golden duck in the second over, caught and bowled by Nahida Akter (3/1)
• Bangladesh Fight Back: Bangladesh bowlers struck repeatedly, reducing South Africa to 64/4 in 18.1 overs with captain Laura Wolvaardt run out for 31
• Critical Collapse: South Africa slipped to 78/5 when Sinalo Jafta was bowled by Fahima Khatun in the 23rd over
• Match-Turning Partnership: Kapp and Tryon rescued South Africa with an 85-run stand for the 6th wicket, taking the score from 78/5 to 163/6
• Tense Finish: After both Kapp (40.2 overs) and Tryon (44.5 overs) fell, South Africa still needed 37 runs with 2 wickets remaining
• De Klerk’s Heroics: Nadine de Klerk smashed 37 not out from just 29 balls, including crucial boundaries in the death overs to seal victory
• Bangladesh’s Late Push: Shorna Akter’s explosive 51 from 35 balls powered Bangladesh from 150/3 to 232/6, giving them a fighting total
• Final Over Drama: South Africa needed just 2 runs from the final over but got home with 3 balls to spare

Match Analysis

Bangladesh elected to bat first and struggled for momentum through the middle overs, managing just 150/3 after 40 overs. However, Shorna Akter changed the game with fearless hitting, striking three sixes over long-on. Her 51 not out from 35 balls, supported by Ritu Moni’s quick-fire 19 from 8 balls, lifted Bangladesh to a competitive 232/6.

The chase looked comfortable when South Africa reached 58/1, but Bangladesh’s spinners struck back hard. Nahida Akter and Rabeya Khan bowled tight lines, creating pressure that led to a collapse of four wickets for just 20 runs. At 78/5, Bangladesh sensed victory.

But South Africa’s experience showed. Kapp and Tryon rebuilt patiently, rotating strike and punishing loose balls. Their partnership of 85 runs gave South Africa control. When both departed within five overs, De Klerk kept cool under pressure, finding boundaries when needed and taking her team across the line.

Bangladesh’s spinners bowled well, with Nahida Akter taking 2/44, but they couldn’t defend a total that proved just 3 runs short. The loss leaves Bangladesh with an uphill battle to reach the semi-finals.

What’s Next?

South Africa’s narrow victory keeps them firmly in the race for the knockout stages. Their ability to win close games under pressure will boost confidence heading into their next matches. The all-round contributions from Kapp, Tryon, and De Klerk prove their batting depth.

Bangladesh will rue missed opportunities in the field and the early batting struggles that left too much for the lower order. Despite Shorna Akter’s heroics, they need their top order to fire consistently if they hope to stay alive in the tournament. They must win their remaining matches to have any chance of progressing.

Both teams now look ahead to their next World Cup fixtures, with every point crucial in the tight race for semi-final spots.