Multan: The South African women’s cricket team started their full-fledged Pakistan tour to play a three-match T20I series. In the first T20 match, South Africa beat Pakistan by 10 runs on Monday evening at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan. In the same venue, the second T20 match was held on September 18, Wednesday. South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl. After that, Gull Feroza and wicketkeeper Muneeba Ali of the Pakistan players, who gave a joint start to the team and struck four boundaries in 20 balls, got dismissed for 10 (11) runs in the fourth over by Tumi Sekhukhune.
With 25 runs on the board, left-handed batter Muneeba was joined by Sidra, and the pair knitted a quick-fire 49 (39) runs for the second wicket. Muneeba was next to return to the pavilion after scoring 45(34) runs, which included six fours and two sixes with the scoreboard reading 74 for 2 wickets in 10.2 overs. After that, Sidra and Nida Dar got together and added 26 (12) runs before Sidra got bowled to Sune Luus for 28 (25) runs, with three fours and one six. At 100 for 3 wickets in 12.2 overs, Nida and captain Fatima Sana got together and stitched a 60-run partnership for the fourth wicket off 38 balls.
Nida, during her innings of 29 (21), which included four boundaries, also brought up her 2,000 T20I runs. After Bismah Maroof and Javeria Khan, she became the third women cricketer for Pakistan to achieve this milestone. Thus, at the end, the Pakistan women’s team lost 4 wickets and were able to score 181 runs in their 20 overs, largely due to an unbeaten knock of 37 (23) runs by Fatima, which included three fours and two towering sixes. Aliya Riaz also chipped in with an unbeaten 17(7) off runs, hitting two fours and a six.
For South Africa, right-arm fast bowler Tumi Sekhukhune, who showed excellent bowling on the part of the South African team, took two wickets for 30 runs in three overs. Chasing 182 runs, Tazmin Brits and Laura Wolvaardt gave a joint start to the Pakistan team, who played towards the target. In turn, Tazmin Brits 9(10) runs in the third over of the inning to Sadia Iqbal. Before that, Pakistan suffered a blow in the same over when their captain Fatima was hit on the face while fielding.
After that, right-arm fast bowler Fatima was taken off the field and resultantly replaced by debutant left-arm pacer Tasmia Rubab as a concussion substitute. South Africa lost their second wicket in the ninth over, with their captain Laura Wolvaardt departing for 25 (36) runs, laced with five fours and one six. After Wolvaardt’s departure, Anneke Bosch 24(24) and Nadine de Klerk 12(16) lost their wickets.
At last, the South African team managed to score 168 and fell just 13 runs short of the target due to an unbroken 80-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Sune Luus, who scored 53 (29) runs not out, and Chloe Tryon, who scored 30 (16) runs. For Pakistan, left-arm spinners Nashra Sundhu and Sadia Iqbal picked up two wickets and managed to level the three-match T20I series 1-1.
