Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana revealed that her team was left in tears after their heartbreaking loss to South Africa in Vizag in the Women’s World Cup 2025 on Monday, October 13. Bangladesh under Nigar Sultana posted 232 runs in their 50 overs on the back of fifties from Sharmin and Shorna Akter and seemed to have their noses in front when the Proteas were left reeling at 78 for five.
From there, Marizanne Kapp and Chloe Tryon scored fifties before Nadine de Klerk pulled off another finishing masterclass to secure the three-wicket win. This was the second time Bangladesh lost a close encounter after falling to England and their straight one in the tournament. Despite this, Nigar Sultana said she was proud of her young team’s performance as they gave their 110 percent.
The Bangladesh vs South Africa game in the ongoing 2025 edition of the Women’s World Cup turned out to be one closely fought affair. South Africa, courtesy of three nail-biting chases in the World Cup, are being considered as one of the favourites after England and Australia to win the biggest prize in women’s cricket. This is South Africa’s third consecutive victory in the marquee tournament, and they are now in third place with six points from four games
Bangladesh had set a target of 233 for South Africa to win. Despite losing two quick wickets, Bangladesh reached the respectable total with half-centuries from Sharmin Akhter and Shorna Akter. Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana too scored 32 off 42 balls at a strike rate of 76.19.
It all boiled down to the last over where South Africa needed 8 runs off 6 balls. Bangladesh might’ve given them an average target, but economical bowling performances from Nahida Akter, Ritu Moni, and Rabeya Khan forced the match to be decided in the final over. Superhuman-like effort from Nadine de Klerk sealed the game for South Africa, and it left the Bangladesh players heartbroken.
Rabeya Khan missed a caught-and-bowled chance in the fifth over to reprieve South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt on 11, and she went onto score a steady 31. Bangladesh then dropped two chances towards the end with the chase getting tense. Substitute Sumaiya Akter couldn’t hold on to Chloe Tryon’s offering at wide long-on when on 50 and when South Africa needed 37 off 36.
But when Shorna Akter dropped a sitter at long-off with South Africa needing 9 off 8, it drew a dramatic reaction from the bowler Rabeya. The dangerous Nadine de Klerk was on 26 with No. 9 Masabata Klaas at the other end. In the next over, de Klerk smashed the remaining eight runs with a four and a match-winning six for the second game in a row.
Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana said that her team was left in tears after their heartbreaking loss to South Africa in Vizag. Sultana said she was proud of the team’s efforts in the close encounter against the Proteas.
We should be proud of performance- Nigar Sultana
Seventy-eight for 5 in Guwahati and 78 for 5 in Visakhapatnam. These are not Bangladesh’s scores at the Women’s World Cup 2025 but the precarious positions they reduced two top oppositions in in their last three games and ended up on the losing side on both occasions.
In the first, they were defending a modest 178 and gave England a scare, and on Monday against South Africa, they put up a much more competitive 232 with a bowling line-up that looked capable of defending it. However, they went down largely because of several fielding lapses that included three catches put down and South Africa clinched the thriller by three wickets.
The Bangladesh bowlers were also not able to bowl accurately towards the end and bowled full tosses or in the range of the batters, which their captain Nigar Sultana said was because of dew. She also said that the result might have been different if the players had calmed their nerves. The Bangladesh skipper said despite batting sensibly in the powerplay, they were 10-15 runs short in the end.
“First of all, I am really proud of the way my girls fought till the last ball of the match but I am sad because they are crying in the dressing room. They are so young. I am really happy as they gave their 110% in the ground, fight for each and every run and they are very emotional. They kept believing that we can get this win. It was a big learning for us.
“See, we have been losing early wickets in the powerplay. Our main plan was to not giveaway any wicket inside the powerplay and also build a partnership. We introduced Pinky today. She is a senior player. Everyone gave their best in the middle but we were still 10-15 runs short. Maybe that could’ve been a bigger difference today,” said Nigar Sultana.
Nigar Sultana drew parallels to the England loss and felt the game slipped away after the 30th over. Bangladesh also dropped catches of Tryon and De Klerk at crucial points in the game but Sultana feels her side has shown courage in the tournament. Nigar Sultana had an emotional message for her teammates and wants them to continue playing in the same manner for the rest of tournament.
“This happened in the England game as well. We managed to pick 5 early wickets but the match slipped away after the 30th over. During the break, we were talking about hitting the right lengths. The bowlers did really well. Unfortunately something happened in the middle which happens in the game of cricket. It was a good experience for us. My team is very young but they have shown brilliant courage since that New Zealand game,” said Nigar Sultana.
“I will just say that everyone needs to be proud of their efforts. This is not our last game of the tournament. We have 3 more games left. We should be proud and we should keep our heads held high. We gave them a tough fight.”
Bangladesh are currently placed sixth on the points table and alive in the semifinal race. Their next game is against defending champions Australia led by Alyssa Healy at the same venue on October 16.
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