Nervy win keeps SA alive in semifinal race

South Africa kept their Women's T20 World Cup semifinal hopes alive with a nervy four-wicket win over Bangladesh at Lord's, but they now need Australia to beat India later on Sunday. India's vastly superior net run rate means a win for them would send Harmanpreet Kaur's side through to the semifinals.

Chasing 118, Laura Wolvaardt's side survived a spirited Bangladesh fightback to get home with four balls to spare, thanks largely to Annerie Dercksen's composed 45 and useful contributions from Marizanne Kapp and Nadine de Klerk lower down the order.

South Africa had earlier laid the foundation with the ball after Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail exploited the helpful morning conditions to reduce Bangladesh to 14 for 2 inside four overs. The experienced seamers barely allowed the batters any room to free their arms, leaving Bangladesh struggling for momentum despite a 56-run stand between Sobhana Mostary and Sharmin Akhter for the third wicket.

Nonkululeko Mlaba eventually broke the partnership by bowling Sharmin before removing Shorna Akter later in the innings, while Nadine de Klerk chipped in with the wicket of Mostary. Nigar Sultana then injected some urgency with an unbeaten 32 off 20 balls, helping Bangladesh collect 36 runs in the last three overs and finish with a more competitive 117 for 5 than had seemed likely for much of the innings.

Bangladesh struck immediately in reply when Marufa Akter produced a superb inswinger to trap Laura Wolvaardt with the very first ball of the chase. But Dercksen and Tazmin Brits steadied South Africa with a measured 52-run partnership for the second wicket, absorbing the early pressure before gradually taking control. Dercksen was the more fluent of the pair, striking two sixes during her run-a-ball 45, while Brits made 20 before Nahida Akter provided Bangladesh another breakthrough.

Bangladesh, until the end, didn't let the chase become straightforward. Shanjida Akter Meghla trapped Dane van Niekerk lbw, Nahida removed Dercksen after a successful review and later forced a mix-up that resulted in Kapp's run out.

South Africa briefly wobbled as wickets continued to fall, with Ritu Moni dismissing de Klerk after a sharp catch from Shorna Akter left five needed from the final over. Chloe Tryon, though, benefited from a streaky boundary off the opening ball before squeezing the winning run through the infield to seal the victory and keep South Africa's campaign alive, at least until the outcome of India versus Australia.

Brief scores: Bangladesh Women 117/5 (Nigar Sultana 32*, Sobhana Mostary 42; Nonkululeko Mlaba 2-22) lost to South Africa Women 118/6 in 19.2 overs (Annerie Dercksen 45, Tazmin Brits 20; Nahida Akter 2-24) by four wickets.