SA hand Tigresses 5-0 defeat

Inept batting was once again the story of the day as the Bangladesh women's cricket team, despite posting their highest total in the ongoing series of 166 for nine, was subjected to a fifth successive comprehensive defeat. Hosts South Africa cemented their superiority in convincing fashion as they won the fifth and last ODI over the hapless Tigresses by six wickets and thereby completed a 5-0 clean sweep of the series at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein yesterday.

Given Bangladesh's run of low scores in the first four matches, it was a no-brainer for South Africa skipper Dane van Niekerk to field first after winning the toss. And the hunch proved true as once again Bangladesh's batters were unable to learn from their mistakes and despite opener Shamima Sultana's fifty and skipper Rumana Ahmed's 74 off 123 balls, which included seven fours, none of the Tigresses were able to make an impact with the bat. Nigar Sultana (12) was the only other player to reach double figures as Bangladesh eventually ended up posting an unchallenging total despite playing out 50 overs.

In reply, South Africa had no problems whatsoever. In-from opener Laura Wolvaardt remained unbeaten on 70 off 96 balls with seven fours while her partner Lizelle Lee added 44 runs to help the home side reach the target for the loss of four wickets and with 15 overs to spare. Off-spinner Khadija tul Kubra was the pick of the bowlers and bagged three wickets for the bowling side.

The Bangladesh womens' team have been struggling with the bat right from the start of the five-match series. In the first four matches they posted 164, 89, 71 and 74 runs.

Bangladesh will take on the home side in the first of the three T20s on May 17 at the Diamond Oval in Kimberly.

SCORES IN BRIEF

Bangladesh: 166 for 9 in 50 overs (Shamima 53, Rumana 74, Ismail 3-17, Kapp 2-21)          

South Africa: 169 for 4 in 35 overs (Lee 44, Wolvaardt 70 not out, Van Niekerk 29; Khadija 3-37)

Result: South Africa women won by 6 wickets and clinched the 5-match series 5-0.