In a nail-biting 1st T20I of the South Africa Women’s tour of Pakistan, South Africa Women secured a hard-fought 10-run victory over Pakistan Women in Multan on September 16, 2024. The match, filled with twists and turns, showcased some exceptional performances from both sides as the visitors managed to hold their nerves in a tight encounter.
South Africa’s Steady Start
Opting to bat first, South Africa Women posted a competitive total of 132/4 in their allotted 20 overs. The batting was anchored by the dependable opener, Tazmin Brits, who played a crucial unbeaten knock of 56 from 63 balls. While she did not score at a blistering pace, her steady approach ensured that South Africa had a platform to accelerate later in the innings.
Skipper Sune Luus provided valuable support, contributing a patient 27 off 27 deliveries before being dismissed. The South African batters found it challenging to dominate Pakistan’s bowlers, with left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal being the standout for the hosts, claiming 3 wickets for 34 runs in her 4 overs. Pakistan managed to keep things relatively tight in the middle overs, but a lack of wickets in the death overs allowed South Africa to reach a respectable total.
Pakistan’s Chase: A Fight to the Finish
In response, Pakistan Women fell agonizingly short, managing 122/5 in their 20 overs, just 10 runs shy of the target. Aliya Riaz played a valiant knock, remaining unbeaten on 52 from 39 balls, while Fatima Sana chipped in with a quickfire 37* off 24 deliveries. Both tried to rescue Pakistan from a precarious position, but their efforts weren’t enough to steer the hosts to victory.
South Africa’s bowlers were impressive, with Tumi Sekhukhune leading the charge by taking 2 wickets for just 15 runs in her 3 overs. Marizanne Kapp, known for her ability to deliver under pressure, played a key role with her economical spell, picking up 2 wickets for 22 runs in her 4 overs. The visitors managed to maintain pressure with their disciplined bowling, not allowing the Pakistani batters to break free.
Key Moments of the Match
- Tazmin Brits’ Resilience: Brits held the innings together for South Africa, adjusting to the conditions and ensuring her team had enough runs on the board to challenge Pakistan.
- Sadia Iqbal’s Spin Magic: Sadia’s spell of 3/34 kept South Africa’s batting in check, particularly in the middle overs, preventing them from scoring freely.
- Aliya Riaz’s Heroics: Despite the mounting pressure during the chase, Aliya stood firm for Pakistan, almost single-handedly guiding her side to the finish line.
- South Africa’s Tight Bowling: Sekhukhune and Kapp were crucial in the middle and death overs, bowling tight lines and varying their pace to restrict Pakistan’s scoring.
Looking Ahead
The victory gives South Africa Women a 1-0 lead in the T20I series, and they will be looking to build on this momentum in the upcoming matches. Pakistan Women, on the other hand, will take heart from the fight shown by Aliya and Fatima but will need to work on building partnerships at the top of the order to ease the pressure in the middle overs.
With both teams displaying grit and determination, the series promises to offer more exciting cricket in the matches to come.
