Pakistan set the visitors a mammoth 182 as a target, a score South Africa often struggle to reach in the shortest format of the game, especially on the Asian sub-continent.
DESPITE a dramatic late fightback, the Proteas Women lost the second T20 international by 13 runs against Pakistan in Multan on Wednesday night.
The Pakistan Women levelled the series 1-1, with one match remaining in the series on Friday (7am SA time start).
The hosts set the visitors a mammoth 182 as a target, a score South Africa often struggle to reach in the shortest format of the game, especially on the Asian sub-continent.
However, it was a challenge captain Laura Wolvaardt and her team welcomed, and they showed it right from the beginning of the chase.
Highlights from the 2nd T20i
A narrow defeat, but the fight was always there!👊🇿🇦#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #AlwaysRising #SAWvPAKW pic.twitter.com/ewMWtfP98V
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) September 19, 2024
Despite losing Tazmin Brits in the first powerplay, Wolvaardt (36 off 25 balls, 5×4, 1×6) and Anneke Bosch (24) showed positive intent as the pair put together a 50-run partnership before the captain fell in the ninth over.
Nadine de Klerk (12) did not last long in the middle as she was bowled by Nashra Sandhu (2/20) in the 13th over.
Having been moved down the order to No 5, Suné Luus (53 not out off 29 balls, 6×4, 1×6) took on the responsibility as a senior player as she fought hard alongside Chloe Tryon (30 not out, 16 balls, 5×4) to get the team close to the target.
However, with more than 45 runs required in the last three overs, it was always going to be a steep mountain to climb for the Proteas, and so it proved as the visitors fell short by 13 runs.
History Maker!✨
Sune becomes the 3rd Proteas player to score 1000 runs and take 50 wickets in T20i cricket.🏏🇿🇦
Bravo!!👏#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #AlwaysRising #SAWvPAKW pic.twitter.com/t0gwdhJXdI
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) September 18, 2024
But it was a batting effort that the team could be proud of, given that they were able to get past the 150-run mark, a target that they have failed to reach consistently in T20 cricket on the sub-continent.
Earlier, the visitors announced a different XI at the toss, as veteran all-rounder Marizanne Kapp and seamer Ayabonga Khaka were replaced by De Klerk and 20-year-old seam bowler Ayanda Hlubi, respectively.
Despite the changes, the Proteas Women stuck to their guns in that they still played a side dominated by seam bowlers, contrary to Pakistan’s spin-heavy playing XI.
Having been sent in to bat first, the hosts got off to a decent start as they maintained a run-a-ball rate in the powerplay, despite losing Gull Feroza (10), courtesy of a Tumi Sekhukhune delivery.
Having lost Feroza in the powerplay, opening batter Muneeba Ali (45) assumed the aggressor’s role, smashing a couple of sixes in her 49-run stand with Sidra Amin (28), until Annerie Dercksen got the better of her in the 11th over.
A 60-run stand followed between Nida Dar (29) and captain Fatima Sana (37 not out) as the pair attacked De Klerk’s medium pace in the middle overs.
Eventually, the hosts set a competitive total of 181 with Sana and Aliya Riaz (17 not out) finishing the innings unbeaten.
Despite conceding 10 runs per over, Sekhukhune finished best of the bowlers for South Africa with figures of 2/30 in three overs.
