Skipper Fatima Sana, Aliya Riaz’s late blitz, followed by a clinical show from the spinners gave Pakistan a series-leveling victory in a must-win.
The South African women’s team led by skipper Laura Wolvaardt clinched the first T20I by 10 runs to go 1-0 up in the three-match T20I series. Tazmin Brits was awarded the Player of the Match for her brilliant unbeaten half-century.
South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt won the toss and opted to field first in the 2nd T20I at the Multan Cricket Stadium. After being inserted to bat first, the Pakistan openers Gull Feroza and wicket-keeper batter Muneeba Ali got their side off to a decent start with a 25-run opening partnership. Tumi Sekhukhune picked up the wicket of Gull Feroza to provide the first breakthrough for South Africa.
Sidra Amin joined wicket-keeper batter, Muneeba Ali at the crease, and the duo stitched a crucial 49-run partnership for the 2nd wicket to take their side close to the 100-run mark. Annerie Dercksen cleaned up Muneeba Ali (45 runs) to provide the 2nd breakthrough for her side. Former skipper Nida Dar joined Sidra Amin at the crease and the duo stitched a 26-run partnership for the 3rd wicket to take their side to the 100-run mark.
Sune Luus cleaned up Sidra Amin to provide the 3rd breakthrough for South Africa. Skipper Fatima Sana joined former skipper Nida Dar at the crease and the duo stitched a 60-run partnership to take their side past the 150-run mark. Tumi Sekhukhune returned and picked up the wicket of Nida Dar (29) to provide the 4th breakthrough for her side. Pakistan eventually ended up with a record, highest-ever team total of 181/4 in their quota of overs, courtesy of late blitz from skipper Fatima Sana and Aliya Riaz.
Wicket-keeper batter Muneeba Ali (45 off 34 balls), skipper Fatima Sana (37* off 23 balls), Nida Dar (29 off 21 balls), Sidra Amin (28 off 25 balls), and Aliya Riaz (17* off 7 balls) were the top performers with the bat for Pakistan. Tumi Sekhukhune (3-0-30-2), Annerie Dercksen (3-0-23-1), Chloe Tryon (4-0-26-0), and Sune Luus (2-0-10-1) were the top performers with the ball for South Africa.
Chasing a target of 182, the South African openers Tazmin Brits and skipper Laura Wolvaardt got their side off to a cautious start with a 12-run opening partnership. Sadia Iqbal picked up the wicket of Tazmin Brits to provide the first breakthrough for Pakistan. Anneke Bosch joined skipper Laura Wolvaardt at the crease and the duo stitched a much-needed 50-run partnership for the 2nd wicket to take their side past the 50-run mark. Nashra Sandhu cleaned up the opposition skipper Laura Wolvaardt to provide the big 2nd breakthrough for her side.
Nadine de Klerk joined Anneke Bosch at the crease and the duo stitched a 22-run partnership for the 3rd wicket to take their side closer to the 100-run mark. Sadia Iqbal returned and picked up the wicket of Anneke Bosch to provide the 3rd breakthrough for Pakistan. Nadine de Klerk soon followed her back to the pavilion to provide the 4th breakthrough for Pakistan, being reduced to 88/4 at the end of the 13th over.
Chloe Tryon joined Sune Luus at the crease and the duo stitched an unbeaten 78-run partnership for the 5th wicket. However, the duo failed to take their side over the line as South Africa was restricted to 168/4 in their quota of overs, falling short of the target by 13 runs. Sune Luus (53* off 29 balls), skipper Laura Wolvaardt (36 off 25 balls), and Chloe Tryon (30* off 18 balls) were the top performers with the bat for South Africa.
Nashra Sandhu (4-0-20-2), Sadia Iqbal (4-1-27-2), and Nida Dar (3-0-22-0) were the top performers with the ball for Pakistan. Wicket-keeper batter Muneeba Ali was awarded the Player of the Match for her crucial contribution (45 off 34 balls) with the bat. The home side Pakistan, has leveled the three-match T20I series 1-1, pushing the series into a decider in the 3rd T20I.
