Durban: Half-centuries from Shatab Shams and captain Fatima Sana led Pakistan to a massive 119-run win in the third and final ODI against South Africa.
South Africa captain Laura Wohlward’s decision to bat first backfired as the tour team piled up a mammoth total of 306/8 on the board in 50 overs with the help of Shamas and Sana.
Shamas top-scored for Pakistan by anchoring a 97 off 82 balls with 16 fours and a six, while Sana scored 60 off 41 balls with 5 sixes and 3 fours.
Shamas was adjudged man of the match for his half-century to lift the order.
Experienced top-order batsman Chitra Amin and wicketkeeper batsman Najiha Alvi contributed with 41 and 36 runs respectively.
Among South Africa’s bowlers, Sune Luce took 3 for 42 from his nine overs, followed by Nonkululego Malaba with 2 and Ayanta Hlubi, Anneri Derksen and Chloe Trion with one each.
Chasing a target of 307 runs, the Proteas batting unit stumbled and scored 187 runs in 36.2 overs despite a half-century from Henry Derksen.
The home side got off to a dismal start to the chase, losing three wickets for just 7 runs in two overs.
Following the collapse, Derksen joined forces with top-order batsman Fay Tunnicliffe and the duo began a recovery by putting on 90 runs for the third wicket, with Nashra Sandhu scoring 47 off 51 balls with seven boundaries.
Derksen put on another crucial partnership, putting on 50 runs for the fifth wicket with Sinaloa Jafta, both of whom were dismissed in successive overs, resulting in South Africa slumping to 147/6.
Derksen scored 54 off 67 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes while Jafta scored 33 off 34 balls.
Their back-to-back dismissals sparked momentum for the Pakistan bowlers and they ran through South Africa’s lower order, eventually booking the home side to a modest score to successfully defend a formidable target.
Sadia Iqbal led Pakistan’s bowling with frugal bowling figures of 3/41 from her 10 overs, followed by Nashra, Umme-Hani and captain Sana with 2 each and Tasmiya Roop with a run.