Pakistan women’s team completes first-ever white-wash over South Africa
Pakistan women’s team completes first-ever white-wash over South Africa: The T20 series between the two sides began on Friday 1st September in Karachi. The series schedule was 3 T20s and 3 Odis.
In the last two matches, Pakistan chased the target of 151 and it was the first that Pakistan had chased the score of 151 successively in two matches.
Previously, Pakistan hadn’t chased down any score above 150 but in this series, they did twice which is a great sign for Pakistan women’s cricket.
After being put in, Pakistan was off to a steady start, with openers Shawaal Zulfiqar and Sidra Ameen putting together 41 runs in the powerplay. Nonkululeko Mlaba broke the stand right after, removing Zulfiqar for a 19-ball 18, following which Bismah Maroof joined Ameen in the middle. South Africa’s bowlers stemmed the flow of runs post the powerplay, conceding just five more boundaries till the 15th over. Pakistan also lost Ameen in the 13th over, caught by Anneke Bosch off Nondumiso Shangase’s delivery.
Dar then joined Maroof and kept the runs flowing. She took Shangase for a six and a four in the 15th over before hitting three fours in the space of seven balls. But the partnership didn’t last long after that, with Tumi Sekhukhune pegging Pakistan back with the wickets of both Maroof and Dar in the 19th over. Muneeba Ali and Aliya Riaz then added 10 more runs to drag Pakistan to 150 for 5.
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In reply, South Africa also made 41 in the powerplay but lost Tazmin Brits to Sandhu in the fifth over. Wolvaardt then came to the crease and steadied the ship, finding the boundary regularly to keep South Africa in the game, despite losing two partners – Bosch and Sune Luus – during her stay. Iqbal, Umm-e-Hani, and Dar also kept the scoring in check in the middle overs.
Iqbal, who had also removed Luus, came back to dismiss Wolvaardt to turn the game Pakistan’s way. Iqbal and Sandhu finished with two wickets apiece. The teams are scheduled to play three ODIs in Karachi starting September 8.
Pakistan 150 for 5 (Maroof 39, Sekhukhune 2-24) beat South Africa 144 for 5 (Wolvaardt 72, Sandhu 2-16, Iqbal 2-25) by six runs in 3rd t20.
