Tazmin Brits scored a well-paced half-century as she set South Africa Women's team up for a 10-run win over Pakistan Women in their T20 International match at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Pakistan on Monday evening.
South Africa lead the three-match series 1-0.
The visitors, who were asked to bat first, fought their way to 132 for four and the hosts replied with a total of 122 for five.
Brits top-scored in the match with an unbeaten 56 off 63 balls (5 X 4). The 31-year-old appeared to struggle to time the ball as she looked to force the issue on a spin-friendly surface.
However, once she got the measure of the pitch, Brits looked unstoppable. She was adjudged to be the Player of the Match for her splendid effort.
The @ProteasWomenCSA win the first WT20I against Pakistan Women in Multan 👏
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) September 16, 2024
You can watch the second game of the series on Wednesday from 16:20 (CAT) 🍿#HereForHer | #SAWvPAKW pic.twitter.com/lxqCmYVkO9
South Africa ran into trouble early on, when Brits lost two partners, Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch, in back-to-back deliveries.
The visitors tried to rebuild with Brits and Marizanne Kapp, but that partnership was also short-lived.
Pakistan's spin attack made it difficult for the visitors to play their natural attacking games.
It took a measured and level-headed 63-run fourth-wicket partnership between Brits and Sune Luus to lift the South African innings and draw them closer to the 120-run mark.
Luus scored a valuable run-a-ball 27. Luus's replacement, Chloe Tryon came in and played a seven-ball cameo that featured two sixes as she raced to an unbeaten 15.
Brits and Luus put on a show 🤩
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) September 16, 2024
Just what you want to see from the @ProteasWomenCSA as they build towards the #T20WorldCup 🏏🍿
📺 Stream #SAWvPAKW on DStv: https://t.co/rM90YyQxaw#HereForHer pic.twitter.com/UpeTjwwrls
Sadia Iqbal was Pakistan's most successful bowler with three wickets for 34 runs in four overs.
Her fellow spinner Nida Dar was the only other wicket-taker, with a single wicket for 11 runs in four overs.
Dar was also the most economical bowler, conceding at 2.75 runs an over.
NAIDU MAKES AN IMPACT ON DEBUT
Later in the evening, Marizanne Kapp helped South Africa take control early on.
The allrounder delivered a wicket-maiden in her first over and bagged a second wicket for five runs in her second over to set South Africa up for a successful defence of their total.
Fifty for @aliya_riaz37 👏#PAKWvSAW | #BackOurGirls pic.twitter.com/AaKujBdjbd
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 16, 2024
Kapp was well-supported by Ayabonga Khaka, Tryon and Tumi Sekhukhune.
The pressure from the quartet resulted in a third wicket in the powerplay.
Pakistan were on 18 for three after six overs -- less than half of South Africa’s score at the same point.
Seshnie Naidu took a stunning catch in her first outing as an international cricketer.
But the spinner was not in the side for her fielding, she was in as a bowler.
The 18-year-old did not take long before she made an impact. She got her first and South Africa's fourth wicket with her second delivery, dismissing Sadaf Shamas.
Seshnie Naidu takes a stunner on debut 🤩⭐
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) September 16, 2024
📺 Stream #SAWvPAKW on DStv: https://t.co/rM90YyQxaw#HereForHer pic.twitter.com/BYn2mLmHp4
Pakistan stabilised their innings through two of their most experienced batters, Nida Dar and Aliya Riaz.
The pair constructed a 26-run fifth-wicket partnership that was shaping up to go big at the death. That pairing was undone by Sekhukhune in the 13th over.
However, the hosts refused to throw in the towel and showed they still had some fight in them when Fatima Sana came to the crease.
The Pakistan captain came in swinging. She raced to an unbeaten 37 off 24 (5X4).
Her positive intent allowed Aliya Riaz (52* off 39 balls) to play her natural game, and the 31-year-old batter registered her second T20I half century as a result.
Tumi Sekhukhune was the pick of the bowlers for South Africa with two wickets for 15 runs in three overs.
Allrounder Kapp also bagged two wickets but was a touch more expensive.
She conceded 22 runs in her four overs. Newcomer Naidu was the other wicket-taker with a single wicket for 25 runs in three overs.
PAKISTAN WOMEN: Gull Feroza, Muneeba Ali (w), Sidra Amin, Sadaf Shamas, Nida Dar (c), Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Tuba Hassan, Sadia Iqbal, Nashra Sandhu, Syeda Aroob Shah
SOUTH AFRICA WOMEN: Laura Wolvaardt, Tazmin Brits, Marizanne Kapp, Anneke Bosch, Suné Luus, Chloé Tryon, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta, Seshnie Naidu, Ayabonga Khaka, Tumi Sekhukhune
