In a contest that ebbed and flowed till the final delivery, South Africa held their nerve to defeat Pakistan by five wickets in the opening Women’s T20I at Senwes Park, Potchefstroom. While Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana produced a breathtaking career-best knock under immense pressure, it was Laura Wolvaardt and the hosts’ collective batting effort that ultimately sealed a dramatic victory.
The match had everything a T20 contest promises — early collapses, fearless counterattacks, middle-order jitters and a finish that went down to the very last ball.
Fatima Sana’s fearless fightback lifts Pakistan to 180
After being asked to bat first, Pakistan’s innings seemed to unravel quickly. Reduced to 64 for 6 inside 10 overs, the visitors were staring at a modest total. South Africa’s bowlers, led by the disciplined Kayla Reyneke, kept striking at regular intervals.
Reyneke was outstanding with the ball, returning figures of 2 for 13 in her four overs, including a maiden. She removed Gull Feroza and Natalia Pervaiz, while Ayanda Hlubi and Nonkululeko Mlaba added to Pakistan’s troubles with key breakthroughs.
But just when the innings seemed beyond repair, Sana walked in and flipped the script.
Coming to the crease at a precarious stage, the Pakistani captain launched a stunning counterattack. She struck seven towering sixes and nine boundaries in a breathtaking 41-ball 90, refusing to let the innings fade away. Her assault in the final five overs changed the complexion of the match. Overs from Mlaba, Hlubi and Ayabonga Khaka proved expensive as Sana capitalized on anything loose, powering Pakistan to a competitive 180 for 9.
Though wickets fell at the other end, Sana’s fearless strokeplay ensured Pakistan carried momentum into the break.
Laura Wolvaardt anchors South Africa’s reply
Chasing 181 was never going to be straightforward, but South Africa began confidently. Tazmin Brits set the tone with early boundaries before falling to Humna Bilal. Thereafter, Wolvaardt and Sune Luus steadied the innings with a fluent 62-run partnership.
Luus contributed a brisk 32 before being dismissed by Nashra Sandhu, but Wolvaardt continued to dictate terms. She brought up a 31-ball half-century with authority, blending elegance with calculated aggression. By the 10-over mark, South Africa were well placed at 102 for 2.
However, the match tightened once again. Sandhu removed Wolvaardt for 61, and quick wickets of Dane van Niekerk and Lara Goodall brought Pakistan back into contention. At 153 for 5 after 17 overs, South Africa needed 28 runs from the final three overs, setting up a nerve-wracking finish.
Kayla Reyneke keeps calm to seal dramatic win
Reyneke, already impactful with the ball, rose to the occasion with the bat. Her unbeaten 29 off 16 deliveries proved decisive. She struck crucial boundaries and a vital six in the penultimate overs to keep the equation manageable.
With two runs required off the final ball, Reyneke held her composure and launched the delivery over the ropes, sparking celebrations in the South African camp. The hosts finished at 185 for 5, sealing a memorable five-wicket win.
While South Africa celebrated a hard-fought victory, Sana’s valiant 90 stood out as the emotional highlight of the evening — a captain leading from the front, refusing to surrender even when the odds were stacked high.
Also READ: SA-W vs PAK-W, T20I Series: Date, Match Time, Broadcast & Live Streaming details
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
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