Centurion: South Africa Women’s National Cricket Team beat a spirited Pakistan Women’s National Cricket Team by 16 runs in the second ODI of the three-match series at Supersport Park on Wednesday night.
Batting first, South Africa posted 361-8 in their allotted 50 overs – their second-highest score in women’s ODIs.
In reply, Pakistan produced their highest ODI score but were bowled out for 345 in 49.5 overs, falling agonizingly short despite a valiant chase.
The visitors overtook an ODI score of 335-3 against Ireland in Lahore in 2022, underlining the extent of their effort.
Pakistan’s reply was powered by fluent half-centuries from Ayesha Jaffer, Shatab Shams and captain Fatima Sana, while Syed Aroop Shah and Diana Baig added crucial runs down the stretch.
However, the chase began shakily. Muneefa Ali fell in the second over and Chitra Amin departed in the sixth over as Pakistan were 24-2.
Sadaf Shamas scored 97 off 87 balls for the third wicket, while Ayesha Jaffer scored 75 off 68 balls including 8 fours to record her second consecutive half-century.
Shatab scored his second ODI fifty before departing with 61 off 62 balls with 9 fours in the final delivery of the 20th over. Sune Loos provided the breakthrough.
Ayesha then put on 76 off 60 balls for the fourth wicket with Natalia Parvaiz (32 off 27 balls, 3 fours) to take Pakistan to 197-3.
The momentum changed dramatically when Nontumiso Shanges and man-of-the-match Annerie Derksen were dismissed in quick succession.
Shankase removed Ayesha and Alia Zafar in the last two balls of the 30th over, while Derksen removed Natalia in the next over to reduce Pakistan to 199-6.
Captain Fatima Sana smashed a 36-ball 52, her fourth ODI half-century, with 6 fours and a six. He put on 81 for the seventh wicket in 65 balls with Arup Shah before falling for 280 in the 42nd over.
With 82 needed off 49 balls, Aroop (40 off 44) and Diana Baig kept the match alive, but Nadine de Klerk struck the decisive blow in the 47th over, dismissing Aroop and Nashra Sandhu.
Needing 46 runs from the last three overs, Diana Baig fought bravely and hit a six and a boundary in the last over to leave Pakistan needing 23 runs off the last six balls.
He remained unbeaten on 38 off 25 balls (five fours, one six) but eventually Pakistan were bowled out for 345 runs.
Shankase, De Klerk and Nonkululego Malaba took two wickets each as Tereksen took 3-59.
Earlier, Derksen anchored South Africa’s mammoth score with a 68-ball 90 including 6 fours and 4 sixes. He arrived at the crease with the hosts on 118-3 and turned the tide with aggressive stroke play.
Tasmin Pritts provided the early impetus with a 62-ball 77 (10 fours, 2 sixes), sharing a brisk 55-run opening stand with Laura Wohlward (20). Pakistan bounced back through Aroop Shah and Nashra Sandhu, removing Faye Dunnicliffe and Britts in the middle overs.
Sune Luce scored a steady 57 off 67 balls before adding 102 with Derksen to catch Arup. Sadia Iqbal was then dismissed by Sinaloa Jafta as South Africa reached 234-5 in the 40th over.
Despite denying Fatima Sana Derksen a maiden ODI century, Nadine de Klerk (26 off 49 balls, 7 fours and a six) and Chloe Tryon (23 off 37 balls, 5 fours and a six) made a late start, plundering 127 off the last 62 balls to push South Africa past 360.
For Pakistan, Sadia Iqbal, Fatima Sana and Arup Shah took 2 wickets each.
The third and final ODI for Undergraduates will be played at the Kingsmead Cricket Ground on Sunday 1st March.