Batsman: South Africa’s Tazmin Blitz was Saturday’s top scorer (Marco Longari)
South Africa and New Zealand inched closer to Saturday’s Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final with lopsided wins, but the fate of the tournament remains in the hands of their formidable rivals.
After restricting Bangladesh to 106-3 in 20 overs in Dubai, South Africa achieved the target with 16 balls remaining and won by seven wickets.
They are at the top of Group B with 6 points with 3 wins and 1 loss.
However, 2009 champions England are likely to secure one of the semi-final spots as they have won two so far and still have two games in hand.
If that happens, South Africa and West Indies will be competing for the bottom spot.
2016 champions West Indies have four points but have a better net run rate than South Africa, but the Caribbean side must face England in their final pool match on Tuesday.
In Sharjah, New Zealand defeated winless Sri Lanka by eight wickets, chasing a 116-run target with 15 balls to spare.
New Zealand have four points from three matches, but remain third in Group A behind India, who also has four points, and defending champions Australia, who have six points from three matches.
India face six-time champions Australia on Sunday, while New Zealand conclude their group stage against Pakistan on Monday.
Man of the match Tazmin Blitz led 2023 runners-up South Africa to victory with a solid 42 off 41 balls (there were five fours in the innings).
After Anneke Bosch completed a 25-run-a-ball, Marizanne Kapp (13 not out) and Chloe Tryon (14 not out) welcomed the team home.
“The way we handled the ball was great. We wanted to chase the ball faster and it showed, but we just couldn’t get there,” said South Africa captain Laura Wahlwaardt, whose team added 13 shots. He lamented the loss. When Bangladesh batted.
Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat, but lost their opening batsman Dilara Akhter in vain on the second ball.
The Asian side was unable to make any progress against South Africa’s attacks.
Sobhana Mostari top-scored while skipper Nigar Sultana hit an unbeaten 32 off 38 deliveries, her 38 taking 43 balls.
Kapp recorded 1 win and 10 losses in his medium-paced four overs, while Nonkululeko Mlaba finished with 1 win and 11 losses.
Off-break bowler Mlaba enjoyed an impressive tournament with the ball, finishing as the top wicket-taker with nine wickets in four matches.
“There’s a lot of intention and emotion there,” Bangladesh captain Sultana said after the tournament, which yielded just one win, an opening-day win against Scotland.
～Primer that shines like kiwi～
In Sharjah, New Zealand limited Asian champions Sri Lanka to 115-5 in 20 overs.
Then 20-year-old opener Georgia Primer hit 53, and captain Sophie Devine hit the only six of the game to take her side to 118 for 2 with 15 balls remaining.
Devine said the White Ferns did not discuss run rate before starting the chase.
“We know that winning the game is the most important thing,” she said.
“We will see tomorrow what the result is and we have the final game against Pakistan coming up, but by then we will know exactly where we stand and what is required of us.”
Captain Chamari Atapattu opened the scoring with a top score of 35, making the Sri Lankan team over 100 points for the first time in the tournament.
“We improved a little bit today, but we needed 20-25 more runs,” Athapastu said.
Despite scoring nearly every run and every ball, Plimmer hit only four four-balls and had to run most of his 53 on a day when temperatures reached 39 degrees.
Amelia Kerr, who took 34 hits along with two wickets, and Devine, who took 13 wickets, led New Zealand to victory with a flurry of late goals.
DJ/MW
