ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier Day 9 – Top Moments
South Africa's pacers had allowed India to make just 14 runs in the first ten overs in their first Super Six match on Wednesday (February 15). Van Niekerk, the legspinner, brought herself on in the 11th over and conceded ten runs. But she pulled herself back well, conceding only 20 runs in her next nine overs. She also dismissed Mona Meshram to be the first South African to take 100 wickets in One-Day Internationals. She became the seventh player in the world to complete a double of 1000 runs and 100 scalps.
Her moment came in the third over of her second spell. Meshram and Mithali Raj had put on 96 runs for the second wicket to put India back on track and were looking to shift gears.
South Africa Women's captain Dane Van Niekerk made history by becoming the first South African Woman to reach 100 ODI wickets and she did so with a beautiful leg-break that turned sharply to clip the top of off-stump.
Meshram stepped out to hit van Niekerk against the turn, but missed the ball completely and was bowled. It was a well-deserved wicket as Meshram had not scored in 20 off van Niekerk’s 25 balls.
South Africa lost the match by 49 runs, but by reaching to 100 wickets van Niekerk has set a new benchmark. “I was aware about it quite a while ago, but kind of forgot about it. Mignz (Mignon du Preez) reminded me of that I when I got the wicket,” Niekerk said. “I thought I was on top of Mona. She looked like she was struggling a bit (against me).”
Ireland v Bangladesh
At 36, Ireland's Clare Shillington is as experienced as they come. In her side's first Super Six match, against Bangladesh, she walked to the middle with the team in some trouble at 15 for 2, but made sure to impose herself on the bowlers.
Claire Shillington smashed these two mighty blows back-to-back for Ireland Women although they went down to defeat today in their Super Six match against Bangladesh in Colombo.
Rumana Ahmed, the Bangladesh captain, brought herself on after the pacers went for a few runs. Rumana has been among Bangladesh's most successful allrounders and a potent wicket-taker for the side. Shillington, however, quickly showed her who was in charge. She warmed up with a pair of fours, and then, in the 16th over of the game, smashed two massive back-to-back sixes.
The first went straight down the ground to easily clear the ropes. Rumana replied with a more loopy delivery, only for Shillington to pull out another gorgeous shot on the half volley, this time slightly more angled, to deposit it over long on. It was as clear a statement of intent as they come.