The Bangladesh dressing room was a scene of utter devastation following their heartbreaking loss to South Africa in a thrilling ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 encounter in Visakhapatnam on October 13, 2025. The narrow three-wicket defeat, decided in the very last over, left players in tears and the entire squad shattered, as a palpable sense of missed opportunity hung heavy in the air.
Bangladesh had put up a competitive total of 232/6, built around half-centuries from skipper Nigar Sultana and Shorna Akter. After a slow start, where they were restricted to 28 runs in the powerplay, openers Farzana Hoque and Rubya Haider combined for Bangladesh's highest opening partnership of the tournament. Sharmin Akter and Nigar Sultana added 77 runs for the third wicket to keep the innings on track. Shorna Akter then provided a late surge with a quickfire half-century.
However, South Africa's chase, after a shaky start, was resurrected by Marizanne Kapp (56) and Chloe Tryon (62), who put together a crucial 85-run partnership after the team had slumped to 78/5. With South Africa needing eight runs off the final over, Nadine de Klerk, who had previously played a match-winning innings against India, sealed the victory with a six, finishing on 37 not out.
The atmosphere in the Bangladesh camp shifted from hope to despair as the Proteas edged closer to the target. The tension was palpable as the final over began, with every run scored and every ball bowled carrying immense weight. When de Klerk hit the winning runs, the silence in the Bangladesh dressing room was deafening. The dream of a crucial victory, which would have significantly boosted their chances in the tournament, had been snatched away in the most agonizing manner.
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed his disappointment after a narrow 4-run loss to South Africa in a previous T20 World Cup match. Shanto had been confident in his team's chances, particularly with Jaker Ali at the crease in the final over. He lamented that the South African bowlers had held their nerves to secure the victory. Similarly, the loss in this Women's World Cup clash was a bitter pill to swallow, especially given how close they came.
The players were visibly distraught, with many shedding tears as the reality of the defeat sunk in. The loss was not just a setback in the tournament; it was a blow to their morale and confidence. The team had fought hard, and the narrow margin of defeat made it even more painful. However, Bangladesh will need to regroup quickly, learn from this gut-wrenching experience, and focus on their remaining matches in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025.
