Bangladesh women lose ODI series in South Africa

Sports Desk
There was no history for the Bangladesh national women’s cricket team in South Africa after the visitors lost the series 2-1 against the hosts after suffering a crushing 216-run defeat in their third and final one-day international in Benoni on Saturday.
The margin of defeat was Bangladesh’s largest ever, with the previous record of 154 runs coming also against South Africa in Kimberly in 2018.
After drawing the three-match T20I series 1-1, the visitors won the first ODI of the series by 119 runs, their first ever victory in ODI format on South African soil.
Though Bangladesh lost the second ODI by eight wickets, there was a chance to create history and seal the series for the first time by winning the third match.
But the visitors were completely outplayed by a ruthless South African side that posted 316-4 in the stipulated 50 overs, with openers Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits sharing a record 243-run for the opening stand.
Captain Wolvaardt smashed 126 off 134 balls with 13 boundaries and one six, while Brits hit 124 ball-118, hitting eight fours and two sixes.
Sune Luus smacked a 17 ball-34 and Anneke Bosch scored 28 off 19 balls to push the total past 300.
Rabeya Khan took 2-49 for Bangladesh, which never raised hope to overhaul such a huge target.
Instead, Bangladesh were dismissed for just 100 in 31.1 overs, failing to put up a minimum resistance. Ritu Moni was the top scorer for the visitors, with 33.
Despite the defeat, Bangladesh ended a fruitful year, which saw them win a series against Pakistan and draw against India at home in both T20 and ODI formats. They also won bronze in the Asian Games.