KARACHI: South Africa successfully defended their clinical all-round display as they defeated Pakistan by 52 runs in the third match of the five-match U19 Women’s T20I series at the National Bank Stadium on Sunday.
After South Africa slumped to 29-2 in 4.4 overs, captain Mike Van Voorst led from the front with a crucial 57 off 42 balls with nine fours.
He shared a 76-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Daniel Boshoff as the visitors scored 78 off the last 44 balls of their innings.
Pakistan got off to an encouraging start as Mahnoor Jeb dismissed opener Chanel Venter before Memunah Khalid was run-out for 13 off 11 balls, including 3 fours.
Deirdre van Rensburg fell for 13 off 12 balls before Maham Nasakat took his first wicket as South Africa struggled to 33-3 in 5.3 overs.
Van Voorst steadied the innings along with Chris-Marie Besuidenhout who scored 23 off 20 balls with 2 fours and a six.
Memunah broke the partnership in the 12th over after the pair had put on 42 runs. South Africa were reduced to 80-5 in 12.4 overs when left-arm pacer Mah Noor dismissed Jess Camper in the next over.
Boshoff then decidedly swung the momentum in South Africa’s favor with an unbeaten 39 off 20 balls with 3 fours and 3 sixes.
Along with Van Voorst, Maham took the visitors past 150 before dismissing the South African captain in the final over.
Maham was Pakistan’s best bowler, taking his streak tally to six wickets in three matches and returning figures of 2/29. Mahnoor, Mahnoor Zeb and Memunah took one wicket each.
In reply, Pakistan endured a poor start, losing 5 wickets for just 28 runs as South Africa’s bowlers took complete control.
Areesha Ansari and Shahar Bano tried to revive the innings with a brisk 37 off 24 balls. However, this partnership ended for Pakistan in the 12th over for 65 runs.
Bano again scored 39 off 22 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes before taking a superb diving catch at long-on off Van Voorst. Pakistan’s last three wickets added 29 runs, but the hosts were eventually bowled out for 106 in 18 overs.
For South Africa, off-spinner Respect Mapasa starred with excellent figures of 2-9 in four overs, including a maiden. Mia Lawler and Melissa van der Merwe took 2 wickets each, while Boshoff, Subbiah and Rebetswe Ditibe took one each.
The fourth match of the series will be played at the same venue on Wednesday, July 22, with the first ball scheduled for 7:00 PM PKT.