South Africa square series after last-ball finish

South Africa Women 106 for 4 (Benade 53*, Alam 3-16) beat Bangladesh Women 105 for 6 (Khatun 42, Van Niekerk 2-16) by six wickets
Scorecard

Susan Benade marshalled the chase with an unbeaten half-century that helped South Africa score a last-ball win over Bangladesh in the second Twenty20 in Mirpur and square the three-match series 1-1. Benade came to the crease in the fifth over, after South Africa - chasing 106 - had lost both openers with the score on 15, and shared a 73-run stand with Alison Hodgkinson (37). South Africa required 18 off 14 balls when Hodgkinson fell to offspinner Khadija Tul Kubra and were in a spot of bother as their captain Mignon du Preez was out without scoring four balls later. But Benade prevented any further damage and saw the visiting team through to the finish. Jahanara Alam was the pick of Bangladesh bowlers, with an economical spell of 4-0-16-3.

South Africa had put Bangladesh in to bat first in the crucial match and it was Benade with the ball who made the first breakthrough, getting opener Rumana Ahmed's wicket in the first over. Other South Africa bowlers joined in as they picked regular wickets to deny Bangladesh any strong partnership. None of the Bangladesh batsman, apart from captain Salma Khatun (42), managed more than 10 runs. Legspinner Dane van Niekerk was the most successful bowler for South Africa with two wickets.

The third and the final Twenty20 of the series will be played on September 14.