De Klerk shines as South Africa Emerging whitewash Bangladesh Emerging via Super Over

South Africa Emerging triumphed over Bangladesh Emerging in a thrilling final match of the the T20 series at Hammanskraal Mandela Oval, Pretoria on Sunday (August 4) and in the process inflicted a 3-0 whitewash on the visitors by means of a super over. Nadine de Klerk, the South African skipper, anchored the innings initially, with a fine unbeaten knock of 83 to help her side post a competitive score of 147 on board and then later in the super over struck 14 runs to take her team to victory.

Bangladesh Emerging's chase began on a positive note with a 65-run opening stand as Murshida Khatun and Sanjida Islam laid the perfect foundation for the middle order to flourish. However, the batters failed to take advantage of the start, instead collapsing in a heap. Ritu Moni's stand of 46 runs with Islam did raise hopes of an easy win but it wasn't to be. Islam's unbeaten 58-ball 73 was only enough to equal South Africa Emerging's total but not overhaul it.

Sunday was the day when the legend of Tumi Sekhukhune, the right-arm seamer, just grew. Yes she had been economical and also amongst the wickets through the series, but with only eight to defend in the last over with seven wickets in hand, the diminutive bowler really stepped up.

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The pacer first knocked over Sobhana Mostary off the first ball and then sent Fahima Khatun back a ball later. In the entire over, she ensured that Islam didn't take strike. However, she couldn't prevent the visitors from leveling the scores. Sekhukhune finished the T20 series with seven wickets - the most - at an average of nine and an economy rate that was just a tad over five runs-an-over - clearly underlining why she was crowned 'Newcomer of the Year' at the CSA Awards on Saturday (August 3).

For the record, Evodia Yekile, the leg-spinner, also picked up a couple of scalps, including that of Murshida to break the opening stand.

For the third time in the series, the captain who won the toss chose to chase and this time Bangladesh Emerging had the choice. The early fall of Trisha Chetty was the visitors' only moment to celebrate as South Africa Emerging's next two wickets took some time coming. Captain de Klerk was in superb touch and couldn't be felled. She made 83 in 53 balls with seven hits to the ropes and three over it. That the next best individual score was Tazmin Brits' 35 highlights the dominance of de Klerk.

Nahida Akter was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4-0-27-1.

In the one-over eliminator, Sekhukhune was entrusted with the responsibility by the hosts and she gave away just 10 runs in return for a wicket. Ritu Moni was carted around by de Klerk in the three balls that the super over chase lasted and ensured Bangladesh remained winless in the T20 series. The hosts' skipper was deservedly adjudged Player of the Match.