Mignon du Preez’s 79 off 108 balls helped the Proteas Women set 251-7 against Bangladesh leading to a 94-run win and a 3-1 lead in the series at Cox’s Bazar on Wednesday. 

After losing Lizelle Lee (28 off 18 balls) and Andrie Steyn (14 off 17 balls) SA found themselves on 46-2 after six overs. Du Preez and Chloe Tryon took the game away from the hosts putting on 74 for the third wicket before Tyron was trapped lbw three runs short of her half-century.

Du Preez stuck around despite losing partners at a quick rate. The 27-year-old reached her 11th half-century in 81 balls and put on 32 for the seventh wicket with Dane van Niekerk (26 off 19 balls) before losing her wicket to Bangladesh’s star bowler, Khadija Tul Kubra one ball into the final over.

Bangladesh got their chase off to a poor start, losing four wickets for 41 runs. Moseline Daniels removed both Sharmin Akhter and captain Rumana Ahmed after Marizanne Kapp took the wicket of Sharmin Sultana in her first over.

Fargana Hoque’s 67 off 144 balls gave her side a massive boost. With help from Salma Khatun, the pair put on 71 for the fifth wicket as Bangladesh started to find their stride in the match. Ayabonga Khaka put an end to Bangladesh’s fightback, dismissing Khatun on 30 before she could witness Hoque reach a well-deserved fifty.

With 115 required off the last five overs, the game was well out of reach for the Bangladesh side, thanks to a throttling bowling performance from the Proteas Women. Daniels (2-21), Marcia Letsoalo (2-39), Kapp (1-7) keeping the hosts at bay. Khaka (3-34) bowled exceptionally well and picked up her third on the final delivery of the day to knock out the opposition for 157.