Pakistan get a consolation win against South Africa to cap off the white-ball series

Pakistan Women managed to get over the line in the final ODI against South Africa Women, thanks to a collective team effort. This was only their second win in the white-ball series, which comprised three T20Is and three ODIs, with the other victory coming in the final T20I.

Highest innings total in Durban

Sent in to bat first, Pakistan looked comfortable from the outset. Sadaf Shamas, who scored 61 in the previous game, looked threatening, even as her opening partner, Gull Feroza, fell in the sixth over. 

Sadaf then paired with Sidra Amin to stitch together a 130-run partnership. There was a lull in scoring when Sadaf departed for 97, followed shortly by Sidra’s dismissal for 41. Pakistan, who were 164 for 3 in the 27th over, took roughly 18 overs to score the next hundred runs to reach 250.

It could have turned disastrous had captain Fatima Sana not stepped up at the crucial moment. Sana, who has been in top form this series with both bat and ball, scored 60 off 41 balls to propel Pakistan to 308, their second-highest away total. This was also the highest innings total in a Women’s ODI at Kingsmead.

Bowlers did not lose the plot

Pakistan, uncharacteristically, did not lose momentum midway through the innings. The bowlers kept South Africa on the back foot, with Tasmia Rubab drawing first blood in the opening over. Fatima followed it up by taking a couple of wickets in the next over, including that of captain Laura Wolvaardt. 

The middle order, comprising Annerie Dercksen, who has been in fine form this series, along with Faye Tunnicliffe and Sinalo Jafta, showed some resistance. However, Pakistan’s bowlers continued to make regular inroads, eventually dismissing the hosts for 187 in 36.2 overs.

The 119-run defeat was South Africa’s heaviest loss by runs at home since 2018.

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