Sune Luus and Dané van Niekerk both scored half-centuries as the Proteas Women defended a 170-run target to claim a 32-run win against Bangladesh to go 2-0 up in their three-match T20I series.
The Proteas Women were sent into bat first, but with Laura Wolvaardt out of the side and replaced with debutant Tazmin Brits, the hosts could not replicate their dominant start in their first T20I victory.
The Proteas were rattled early on 43 and found themselves two down by the middle of the fifth over.
Spinning all-rounders Luus and Van Niekerk turned the game in their side’s favour. The pair struck 96 for the third wicket to lift the Proteas out of trouble.
The pair marched to 131-2 before the wicket of Van Niekerk, who contributed 66 off 42 balls (11 fours, one six), until 18-year-old Nahida Akter added to her wicket tally by dismissing skipper Lizelle Lee.
Luus stuck around with Chloe Tryon (18 off nine balls) until the second-last ball of the final over, but she fluffed her chance at staying unbeaten after a brilliant 57-ball 71 (nine fours) helped the Proteas to 164-4. This was Luus’ maiden T20 half-century.
The Proteas finished with 169-4 after the 20 overs.
Bangladesh chased the 170-run target hard. After losing two wickets for only 21 runs, Shamima Sultana and Fargana Hoque took the visitors to 98, but the latter lost her wicket to Shabnim Ismail on 37 for her second wicket.
Sultana managed to score 50 off 43 balls (six fours, one six) but she was bowled by Ayabonga Khaka which sunk any chances of victory for the visiting team.
Bangladesh could only manage to reach 137-5 as they suffered a 32-run defeat.
Photo: CSA/Twitter
