MULTAN – South Africa women beat Pakistan women by eight wickets in the third T20I to win the three-match T20I series 2-1 at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Friday afternoon.
The first T20I was won by South Africa by 10 runs, while Pakistan won the second T20I by 13 runs on Wednesday evening at the same venue.
Chasing 154 to win, South Africa lost their opening batter Tazmin Brits (0,1b) in the first over to Sadia Iqbal. At that stage of the game captain Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch got together in the middle and added a crucial 81-run partnership for the second wicket. Bosch after scoring a 37-ball 46, which included six fours and a six, got retired hurt.
Wolvaardt was dismissed for a 37-ball 45, hitting two fours and as many sixes. That the tourists were able to achieve the target with nine balls to spare was largely due to a quickfire unbeaten knock by Annerie Dercksen, who struck six fours and two sixes in a 23-ball 44. She was equally supported by Sune Luus (14 not out, 13b, 2x4s) as the pair added an unbroken 51-run partnership for the third wicket.
For Pakistan, Sadia and Tuba Hassan bagged a wicket each.
Earlier, after being put into bat, Pakistan openers Muneeba Ali and Gull Feroza got off to a brisk start, adding 49 runs in the batting powerplay. Gull (18,18b, 3x4s) was the first batter to return to the hut with 50 runs on the board in 6.3 overs. Left-handed batter Muneeba Ali after scoring a 26-ball 33, which included four boundaries ran herself out in the 11th over.
Sidra Amin was joined by Nida Dar and the pair added 33 runs for the third wicket before Nida (12,7b,1×6) was bowled by Nonkululeko Mlaba. Captain Fatima Sana was the next batter to return to the hut not before playing a cameo of 27 off 17 balls, smashing two fours and a six. She stitched a 46-run partnership with Sidra for the fourth wicket. Sidra was the top run-getter for the side, scoring 37 off 40 balls, and hitting three fours.
Aliya Riaz and Tuba Hassan returned undefeated on eight and six runs, respectively as the hosts scored 153 for five in their 20 overs.
Both sides will now travel to the UAE to feature in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 commencing from 3 October. South Africa, who are in Group B alongside Bangladesh, England, Scotland and West Indies will fly from Lahore to Dubai tomorrow to participate in the mega event. Pakistan, who are in Group A alongside Australia, India, New Zealand and Sri Lanka will fly from Lahore on Monday morning.
