Pakistan women’s cricket team clinched the three-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series after they beat South Africa with seven wickets in hand in the second match played at the National Stadium, Karachi on Sunday.
After losing an early wicket of Shawaal Zulfiqar in the fourth over for just 23 runs, Bismah Maroof and Sidra Ameen formed an important 68-run partnership that helped the national team chase the target of 151 runs against the visitors.
Ameen played a remarkable innings of 61 runs off 44 balls which included seven boundaries and was awarded the Player of the Match award.
After Maroof and Sidra lost their wickets, Muneeba Ali and Aliya Riaz — who scored the winning boundary on the last ball in the first T20I — built another partnership and chased the target with five balls remaining.
Riaz, once again, delivered with the bat and scored 31 off 18 with an exceptional strike rate of 172.22 and finished the game by scoring a six on the first ball of the last over.
Earlier in the first innings, South Africa’s opening duo of Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits formed a 74-run partnership and got them to a positive start.
Brits was the top-scorer for her side for one more time as she scored 46 runs with three boundaries and helped her side post 150/3 on the scoreboard.
For Pakistan, Sadia Iqbal and Nashra Sandhu took one wicket each.
Lineups
Pakistan Women: Sidra Ameen, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Bismah Maroof, Nida Dar (c), Muneeba Ali (wk), Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Umme Hani, Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal
South Africa Women: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus, Anneke Bosch, Nadine de Klerk, Delmi Tucker, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Masabata Klaas
Schedule of remaining matches
4 Sep – Third T20I v South Africa
8 Sep – First ODI v South Africa
11 Sep – Second ODI v South Africa
14 Sep – Third ODI v South Africa
