South Africa see off Bangladesh to climb top of Group B

In Dubai, South Africa easily defeated Bangladesh by seven wickets to take the lead in Group B.

Marizanne Kapp shone with the ball as the Proteas held the Tigresses to 106 for three, grabbing a wicket in her four overs while only managing 10 runs.

After leading their team to the verge of success with Tazmin Brits (42) and Anneke Bosch (25), Kapp and Chloe Tryon completed the task, putting last year's runners-up in a strong position to advance to the semifinals.

Bangladesh chose to bat and lost their opening wicket in two balls when Dilara Akter was caught behind by Kapp's bowling without adding any points.

With a barrage of boundaries, including a particularly strong six from the former, Shathi Rani and Sobhana Mostary started the comeback, but two balls later, Bosch pouted a brilliant catch on the slip, dismissing the former for 19.

The Tigresses' finest partnership of the tournament came between Sobhana and skipper Nigar Sultana, who put on 45 for the fourth wicket. However, Sobhana's brave knock was emphatically ended when she was clean bowled for 38 by top wicket-taker Nonkululeko Mlaba.

Nigar fiercely fought to the end of the innings, making 32 runs off of the last two overs to assist her team score 23 runs and give the Proteas a 107-run lead.

After South Africa started the reply by hitting several early fours, Laura Wolvaardt (7) was bowled by Fahima Khatun, giving Bangladesh a much-needed wicket.

Bangladesh sought to pull South Africa in during the next two overs, but only managed to score four runs. Bosch's crucial boundary with the last ball of the sixth over kept her team ahead of the needed run rate.

Bangladesh had to seize their chances, but they missed a significant one on 21 when the British were dropped in the deep, a blunder that allowed the Proteas to add more misery to injury.

By this point, South Africa was coasting, and the Brits and Bosch put together a 53-run partnership before the latter was exposed for trying to finish things off quickly, with Fahima once again taking a significant wicket.

Then, as Ritu Moni struck to give Bangladesh some late hope, the Brits followed Bosch back into the hut, but the groundwork for triumph had already been set.

With 16 balls still to spare, Kapp and Tryon secured the match, avoiding any potential late drama. Before preparing for the knockout phases, South Africa will now wait to see how the other results in their group turn out.

Quick scores

Dubai International Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates vs. Bangladesh

Bangladesh 106/3 in 20 overs (Mirza Kapp 1/10, Annerie Dercksen 1/7, Sobhana Mostary 38, Nigar Sultana 32 not out)

In 17.2 overs, South Africa scored 107/3 (Tazmin Brits 42, Anneke Bosch 25; Fahima Khatun 2/19, Ritu Moni 1/22).

South Africa triumphs by seven wickets as a result.