South Africa look for subcontinental success ahead of World Cup Qualifier

Pooled together in Group B at the 2017 ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier, both South Africa and Bangladesh will kickstart their preparation with a five-match bilateral ODI series starting Thursday (January 12) at the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in Cox's Bazar.

At the conclusion of the T20 extravaganza of last year, South Africa were one point away from breaking into the top-four of the 2014-16 ICC ODI Championship tally. A finish there would have ensured a smooth sailing into the next year's 50-over World Cup. They eventually couldn't make it to the elite top-half, losing five of their six remaining Championship games, thus slipping into the Qualifier to be held in Sri Lanka in February.

In the lead up, however, South Africa couldn't have asked for anything better to warm up for their first major challenge in the first-half of the year. Sure Bangladesh aren't expected to beat the experience of the visitors in a format they've just about started playing. It's the timing and the venue that give South Africa a big boost in their quest to secure a berth for the 50-over World Cup to be held in England in June-July.

The tour is part of a bilateral agreement between Cricket South Africa and Bangladesh Cricket Board that will see the latter visiting South Africa in February, 2018. This five-match series, on the other hand, provides Dane van Niekerk and her girls five matches worth of game-time on pitches and in conditions that will, in all likelihood, be identical to those in Sri Lanka next month.

Hilton Moreeng, the South Africa coach, sure hopes so. "It's an important tour this, because it's the only bit of preparation against an international side that we will have before we get to the World Cup Qualifiers," he was quoted as saying by CSA before the team's departure for Dhaka. "The squad is fresh and ready to take on the new year. The preparation is going well thus far and we are looking forward to improving on our shortfalls when we take on Bangladesh on their home soil."

It's been over a month since their last international fixtures and provides the squad a chance to acclimatise to the conditions and test the team's strengths and weaknesses before the pressure builds up at the Qualifier. Apart from Bangladesh, South Africa have another strong opponent in their group in Pakistan. While a spot in the Super Six of the Qualifier is nearly guaranteed, as it should be given their experience, South Africa would know better than to take any team lightly given the subcontinental tracks could upset strategies. Neither are South Africa keen on taking this bilateral fixtures lightly. "We are not going to under estimate our host as we know they can be a tricky team to beat in their own back yard," Moreeng warned.

Two of their experienced campaigners - captain Dane van Niekerk and Marizanne Kapp - are currently plying their trade in the ongoing second edition of the Women's Big Bash League in Australia and the visitors will be hoping their match practice will prove handy when they resume international cricket. "They are two of our senior players and we expect big things from them considering how well they have been playing in the Big Bash," Moreeng said. "That experience and exposure against some of the worlds most talented players is going to be vital going into the Bangladesh series, the Qualifiers and further."

Veteran seamer Marcia Matshipi Letsoalo has earned a recall to the side for the five-match series. "It's exciting to be back here. I've been working really hard on my game to make sure that I get another opportunity to play for the national team and I'm glad to have made it happen," she said.

That South Africa will turn-up full-strength is a no-brainer. "I'm happy with the squad that has been selected. This group have been together for a while now and are aware of the role each player has to play in order to make us a success. Its also good to have an experience campaigner like Marcia (Letsoalo) who adds a lot of value to the squad." the coach added.

In the series however, there's more at stake for the hosts than their guests. Deprived of continuous international action, Bangladesh now face the big challenge of crating an upset or two against the giants who they trail 1-5 on the head-to-head record. More importantly, while South Africa are familiar with the format, Bangladesh have played only 20 games so far since their debut in 2011. And while the visitors did concede their last bilateral series to Australia 0-4, they stood up well against the reigning world champions to secure a tie. Bangladesh, on the other hand, have played a host of games in the abridged version - with not-so-reasonable success to put it moderately - and could really struggle to pace their innings to full 50 overs.

Having said, new coach