South Africa and Pakistan locked horns in the first women’s T2OI match on Monday, September 16 at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan. South Africa, led by Laura Wolvaardt, won the game by 10 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, which serves as a preparation run for both sides for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in UAE.
Speaking of the game, Pakistan’s newly appointed T20I skipper, Fatima Sana won the toss and invited the tourists to bat first. South Africa got off to a solid start but shortly faced a blow with the dismissals of Wolvaardt for 11 and Anneke Bosch for a golden duck in consecutive deliveries in the third over. Despite these setbacks, opening batter Tazmin Brits stood firm and scored an unbeaten on 56 off 63, hitting five boundaries to help her side post 132 for four in their allotted 20 overs. She also stitched a 63-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Sune Luus who scored 27 off as many deliveries with four boundaries and an unbroken 28-run stand with Chloe Tryon (15* off 7).
Left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal emerged as Pakistan‘s standout bowler, claiming three wickets for 34 runs in her four-over spell. Her third wicket, Luus, in the 18th over of the first innings, marked her 50th wicket in the T20I format which she achieved in just 41 games. Meanwhile, former captain Nida Dar, in her 154th T20I appearance, also excelled, conceding only 11 runs in her four overs while taking the wicket of Marizanne Kapp.
In pursuit of the 133-run chase, Pakistan’s innings faltered from the beginning, losing half of the batters by the 13th over with only 47 runs scored. At Pakistan’s critical juncture, Fatima Sana came in and partnered with Aliya Riaz, and formed an unbeaten 75-run stand for the sixth wicket. Despite their efforts, the hosts fell short of 10 runs, allowing South Africa to register a convincing win.
Sana scored an unbeaten 37 off 24 balls, including five boundaries while Aliya Riaz also remained unbeaten, scoring her second T20I half-century. She amassed an unbeaten 52 off just 39 deliveries, including five fours and one maximum. For the Proteas, Kapp and Tumi Sekhukhune each picked up two wickets.
Match Stats
South Africa Women Fall of wickets: 1-20 (Laura Wolvaardt – 2.4 ov), 2-20 (Anneke Bosch – 2.5 ov), 3-41 (Marizanne Kapp – 7.3 ov), 4-104 (Sune Luus – 17.4 ov)
Pakistan Women Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Gull Feroza – 0.2 ov), 2-6 (Sidra Ameen – 2.3 ov), 3-15 (Muneeba Ali – 4.6 ov), 4-21 (Sadaf Shamas – 7.2 ov), 5-47 (Nida Dar – 12.4 ov)
