The series opener in Bloemfontein was a bit of a rollercoaster, shaped largely by a rain delay that cut the game down to 41 overs a side. South Africa managed to post a formidable 260, thanks to a vintage, unbeaten 93 from Sune Luus and a blistering maiden half-century from Sinalo Jafta. Pakistan’s chase started with a nightmare at 5/2, but Sidra Amin and Ayesha Zafar turned things around with a record-breaking 126-run stand. For a while, it looked like they might actually pull off a heist, but once that partnership was broken, the middle order crumbled under the scoreboard pressure. Falling 37 runs short was a tough pill to swallow for the visitors, especially after doing the hard work of getting back into the game.
Squads:
South Africa Women’s Cricket Team
Faye Tunnicliffe, Chloe Tryon, Nondumiso Shangase, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Karabo Meso, Sune Luus, Sinalo Jafta, Ayanda Hlubi, Annerie Dercksen, Lara Goodall, Fay Cowling, Nadine de Klerk, Laura Wolvaardt (C), Tazmin Brits
Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team
Fatima Sana (C), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Gull Feroza, Muneeba Ali, Najiha Alvi, Nashra Sandhu, Natalia Pervaiz, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab, Umm-e-Hani
Players to watch out:
Sune Luus
Sune Luus was undoubtedly the standout performer in the opening game, steering the South African innings with a brilliant unbeaten 93 off just 76 balls. Her aggressive knock, featuring eight boundaries and a six, allowed the hosts to post a formidable 260 in a rain-shortened 41-over contest. She didn’t stop there, though, as she also chipped in with the ball, picking up two crucial wickets for 31 runs to dismantle Pakistan’s middle order. It was a true captain-style performance that rightly earned her the Player of the Match award.
Ayesha Zafar
Ayesha Zafar played a vital role in keeping Pakistan’s chase alive, showing great composure under pressure. She anchored a record-breaking 126-run partnership for the third wicket, personally contributing a hard-fought 81 runs from 94 deliveries. Her innings was punctuated by seven boundaries and provided the much-needed stability after a rocky start for the visitors. Although her efforts ultimately fell short of the target, her form at the top of the order remains a major positive for the Pakistani side moving forward.
Tumi Sekhukhune
Tumi Sekhukhune proved to be the clinical finisher for the South African bowling attack, ending the match with impressive figures of 3 for 50. She stepped up during the final stages of the game, taking the key wickets of Natalia Pervaiz, Diana Baig, and Nashra Sandhu to ensure Pakistan couldn’t stage a late comeback. Her ability to strike at crucial intervals broke any remaining resistance from the tailenders. Sekhukhune’s performance highlighted her importance as a strike bowler when the game is on the line.
Nashra Sandhu
Nashra Sandhu was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan, finishing with 2 wickets for 45 runs in her 8-over spell. She claimed the massive scalp of the South African captain, Laura Wolvaardt, just as she was looking dangerous, and followed it up by dismissing Chloe Tryon for a duck. Even with the bat, she tried to swing the momentum late in the game by smashing a quick boundary before she was caught off the penultimate wicket. Despite the team’s loss, Nashra’s ability to take prized wickets and restrict the flow of runs showed why she is such a key asset to their spin department.
Pitch:
SuperSport Park is renowned as one of South Africa’s fastest and bounciest tracks, offering significant assistance to pace bowlers with the new ball. While seamers often dominate the early stages, the pitch typically flattens out into a belter for batting as the match progresses, particularly in limited-overs formats.
Weather:
The weather will be partly sunny with a high temperature of 28°C and a low of 17°C. Humidity is expected to be 41% with a light 5 mph wind from the southwest. Precipitation chances are minimal, sitting at 5% during the day and 10% at night.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Faye Tunnicliffe, Chloe Tryon, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Sune Luus, Nadine de Klerk, Laura Wolvaardt, Fatima Sana, Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Nashra Sandhu
Match Details:
Date – February 25, 2026
Time – 4:30 PM IST
Venue – SuperSport Park, Centurion
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on the Jio Hotstar app and website.
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