South Africa Clinch 1-0 Lead in T20I Series with a Narrow Victory Over Pakistan
South Africa defeated Pakistan by ten runs, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series in the opening Twenty20 International match in Multan.
Though Aliya Riaz (52*) and Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana (37*) mounted a valiant comeback, South Africa managed to register a competitive 132 for 4, with Tazmin Brits’ undefeated 56 earning her the Player of the Match title.
Key Performances and Match Results
South Africa 132 for 4 (Brits 56*, Luus 27, Iqbal 3-34)
Pakistan 122 for 5 (Riaz 52*, Sana 37*, Sekhukhune 2-15, Kapp 2-22)
South Africa Women won by 10 runs.
Match Analysis
Seshnie Naidu, eighteen, had an incredible maiden Twenty20 International experience in Multan. In the opening game of a three-game series, South Africa defeated Pakistan by 10 runs thanks to a stunning catch at short fine leg and a wicket with her second ball.
South Africa did not obtain the “ten or fifteen runs over 150” that skipper Laura Wolvaardt had hoped for in the first-ever T20I, men’s or women’s, played at this stadium, and with Pakistan 47 for 5, it did not appear they needed it.
However, with an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 75 off 45 balls, Aliya Riaz and new Pakistan captain Fatima Sana made a mess of things. This meant that South Africa had to put in a lot of effort to limit their score, and it did not help that they missed three catches, which is another area that Wolvaardt had targeted for development.
In the fifth over, Wolvaardt herself made the first mistake, leaving Pakistan floundering at 14 for 2. When Nida Dar skied Tumi Sekhukhune to mid-off, she was on 4. Wolvaardt reached the ball, but he was unable to hang on. Later, on 10 off of Sune Luus, Chloe Tryon took Sana down, and on 22 off of Ayabonga Khaka, Luus dumped Sana in the deep. Fortunately, none of that could prevent South Africa from winning, even if it was far closer than they would have preferred.
The skilled players in South Africa delivered the goods: In the third over, Tryon finished with 15 not out off 7, Luus hit a run-a-ball 27 (her first score over 20 this year), and Tazmin Brits scored her third T20I half-century in four innings to save South Africa from 20 for 2. The innings was supported by the 63 runs off 61 balls that Brits and Luus shared.
Sadia Iqbal’s consecutive deliveries to dismiss Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch gave Pakistan early advantage with spin, but they may want to reconsider their dependence on slower bowlers. Pakistan bowled 16 overs of spin overall, using only one seamer (Sana), and benching Diana Baig on what was predicted to be a turning wicket.
Even though Pakistan held South Africa to just 132 for 4, South Africa’s bowling showed how important it was to have variation in their assault. Five other bowlers rolled their arms over while their two senior seamers, Marizanne Kapp and Khaka, bowled their allotted four overs each. After taking a wicket with her second ball after being whacked in the air by Gull Feroza, Kapp had begun with a maiden.
On the other side, Khaka gave up just one in her opening over before Kapp made another breakthrough by dismissing Sidra Amin to make it 6 for 2. When Muneeba Ali struck a boundary off the seventh ball she faced, Nida followed with another four, and the moment of enchantment arrived.
Naidu dove, reached nearly beyond Muneeba’s shoulder, snatched the ball, and held on as her elbow touched the ground as she attempted to flick Sekhukhune fine. She had taken a wundercatch, but it took several replays to establish what she already knew. When she was brought on to bowl in the eighth over, Pakistan was down to 21 for 4, when Sadaf Shamas caught her second ball.
After that, Pakistan appeared to find runs more readily and South Africa appeared to slack off, which would further aggravate Aliya and Sana in particular for the manner they began the chase. With five fours apiece, the two found the night sky with ease, and Aliya’s lone six brought Pakistan tantalizingly near, but not quite.
