Tough South African test awaits Bangladesh on World Cup debut

MATCH CENTRE

Bangladesh v South AfricaUniversity Oval, Dunedin, New Zealand5 March, 11 AM Local time

The Proteas go into the tournament ranked second in the world and are one of the likeliest teams to stop top-ranked Australia from winning a seventh title.

South Africa were knocked out in the semi-finals by eventual champions England five years ago, but will be looking to a particularly strong bowling attack to get their campaign off to a winning start this time around.

Shabnim Ismail is the experienced leader of the attack, but will be ably supported by Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka, with all three in the top-eight of the ICC Player Rankings at the start of the tournament.

The absence of the injured Dane van Niekerk could be a factor in the country’s bid for a first-ever Women’s World Cup title, but South Africa will be confident of having enough to see off an inexperienced Bangladesh in Dunedin.

The Tigers are competing at their first 50-over Women’s World Cup, but have been extremely short on playing time in the past few years, playing just six games since 2019 prior to the Commonwealth Games Qualifier in January of this year.

Defeats to England and Pakistan in their two warm-up games in New Zealand hinted that Bangladesh may find the going tricky at the World Cup, although some solid performances in the seven-run loss to Pakistan showed that the Tigers will be no pushovers.

THE TEAMS

**South Africa Squad:**Suné Luus (c), Chloé Tryon (vc), Ayabonga Khaka, Lara Goodall, Laura Wolvaardt, Lizelle Lee, Marizanne Kapp, Masabata Maria Klaas, Mignon du Preez, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Shabnim Ismail, Sinalo Jafta, Tazmin Brits, Trisha Chetty, Tumi Sekhukhune. Travelling reserves: Andrie Steyn, Nadine de Klerk, Raisibe Ntozakhe

**Bangladesh Squad:**Nigar Sultana (c), Salma Khatun, Rumana Ahmed, Fargana Hoque, Jahanara Alam, Shamima Sultana, Fahima Khatun, Ritu Moni, Murshida Khatun, Nahida Akter, Sharmin Akhter, Lata Mondal, Sobhana Mostary, Fariha Trisna, Suraiya Azmin, Sanjida Akter Meghla

KEY PLAYERS

Nigar Sultana: Much is expected of the Bangladesh captain with the bat and behind the stumps and it will come as no surprise to see the 24-year-old be a breakout star of this tournament. Sultana has already scored an international century in 50-over cricket and has shown the ability to compete well with the best attacks in the world on previous occasions.

Marizanne Kapp: Rated as the third-best allrounder on the ICC Women's ODI rankings, Kapp is a player to keep a close eye on in New Zealand. The 32-year-old recently played a pivotal role in helping the Perth Scorchers claim the WBBL title and is just as capable in 50-over cricket. Kapp can also be quite effective with the bat, with her middle-order hitting a strength for the South African side.

WHAT THEY SAID

South Africa captain Sune Luus: “I think if we get to the semi-final stage again, we're going to make sure we push through even if it's the last thing we do, so we're going to try our best to get to the final.”

“I think every team here is very competitive and a very strong side, so we're going to take each team like it comes and play every game like a final.”

Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana: "We have had a lot of quality practice sessions here, we are trying to assess the wicket and in the conditions I think our girls have done very well.

“I think this is a big opportunity for all of us. We've been working so hard for this and this is our first ever World Cup. I think if we could do well here, it will be a great moment in Bangladesh cricket."

THE VENUE

This is one of three matches hosted at University Oval in Dunedin during the tournament.

The ground typically hosts cricket and rugby fixtures for the University of Otago, but became an international cricket venue in 2008 when it hosted the first Test between New Zealand’s men and Bangladesh, and has been used for seven further Tests and a string of ODIs, including three at the 2015 Men’s World Cup.

TOURNAMENT FORMAT

All eight teams at the tournament will play each other across seven rounds in a league format.

The top four teams in the standings after the conclusion of the Group Stage will qualify for the semi-finals, which will be held in the final week of March.

LATER FIXTURES

Bangladesh’s tournament fixtures:

5 March v South Africa
7 March v New Zealand
14 March v Pakistan
18 March v West Indies
22 March v India
25 March v Australia
27 March v England

South Africa’s tournament fixtures:

5 March v Bangladesh
11 March v Pakistan
14 March v England
17 March v New Zealand
22 March v Australia
24 March v West Indies
27 March v India