Pakistan’s tour match against South Africa Emerging at the Kimberley Oval serves as a vital bridge between the high-octane T20I series and the upcoming ODIs. For the South Africa Emerging XI, it is a massive stage for local talent and standout U19 talents like Faye Tunnicliffe and seamer Leah Jones to state their case for a permanent spot in the senior squad. On the other side, Pakistan enters this 50-over warm-up with plenty of momentum after closing out the T20Is with a dominant victory. They’ll be looking to use this match to fine-tune their combinations and get their middle order, led by the experienced Aliya Riaz, into a rhythm before the official series starts in Bloemfontein.
Squads:
South Africa Emerging Women’s Cricket Team
Faye Tunnicliffe, Alexandra Candler, Simone Lourens, Jenna Evans, Nonkhululeko Thabethe, Leah Jones (C), Luyanda Nzuza, Zintle Kula, Delmi Tucker, Verunissa Reddy, Kgomotso Rapoo
Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team
Fatima Sana (C), Muneeba Ali, Sidra Ameen, Humna Bilal, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Tuba Hassan, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Jabeen, Natalia Pervaiz, Aliya Riaz, Tasmia Rubab, Rameen Shamim, Nashra Sandhu, Umm-e-Hani, Ayesha Zafar
Players to watch out:
Faye Tunnicliffe
Faye is an explosive top-order batter and a reliable wicketkeeper who has been knocking on the door of the senior national side for some time. In her ODI career so far, she has featured in 4 matches, scoring 30 runs with a top score of unbeaten 15, while showing great agility behind the stumps with 8 catches and also has a wicket to her name. She recently made headlines in the domestic circuit with a century for Western Province, proving that she has the temperament to anchor an innings and the power to accelerate when needed.
Leah Jones
A rising star in South African cricket, Leah Jones is a disciplined right-arm medium pacer who has quickly transitioned from the emerging ranks to the senior setup. She made a significant impact in her 2 ODI appearances against Ireland in late 2025, picking up 4 wickets at an impressive average of 22.75, including a career-best 3/48. Her ability to lead from the front was recently on full display when she captained the Emerging Academy to victory over Namibia, taking a clinical four-wicket haul.
Fatima Sana
The young captain of the Pakistan side is a genuine world-class all-rounder who leads by example with both bat and ball. Across her 56 ODIs, she has amassed 632 runs and taken 73 wickets with best bowling figures of 5/39, but it is her recent form in South Africa that is truly frightening; she just bagged the Player of the Series award in the T20Is, highlighted by a blistering 90 off 41 balls. Whether she is steaming in to bowl her medium-fast spells or finishing an innings with the bat, she is the primary threat the South African bowlers need to neutralize.
Aliya Riaz
Aliya is the experienced backbone of the Pakistan middle order, known for her ability to absorb pressure and clear the ropes with ease. With 77 ODI matches under her belt, she has scored 1,620 runs at an average of 26.12, including 10 half-centuries and over 140 boundaries. Her role as a power-hitter is complemented by her handy medium-pace bowling, which has netted her 12 ODI wickets, making her a vital asset for maintaining balance in the team during crunch situations.
Pitch:
The Diamond Oval in Kimberley is a classic South African sporting surface that offers a balanced contest but leans toward the fast bowlers. The pitch is known for its generous carry and steep bounce, which pace bowlers can exploit effectively with the new ball. While the surface tends to flatten out and become more batting-friendly as the match progresses.
Weather:
The weather in Kimberley will be mostly sunny with a high of 31°C and a low of 18°C. Conditions will be dry and relatively still, with a light northwest wind at 9 mph and a very low (5%) chance of any daytime precipitation.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Faye Tunnicliffe, Simone Lourens, Nonkhululeko Thabethe, Leah Jones, Delmi Tucker, Fatima Sana, Sidra Ameen, Sadia Iqbal, Natalia Pervaiz, Aliya Riaz, Nashra Sandhu
Match Details:
Date – February 19, 2026
Time – 1:30 PM IST
Venue – Diamond Oval, Kimberley
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on Cricket South Africa YouTube channel.
Loves all things female cricket