Pakistan captain Fatima Sana celebrates dismissing captain Laura Wolvaardt in the Black Day ODI at Kingsmead at Kingsmead.
Image: Cricket SA
A brilliant all-round display from Pakistan Women's captain Fatima Sana saw her team overpower the Proteas by 119 runs in the annual 'Black Day' ODI at Kingsmead on Sunday.
Each year, Cricket South Africa (CSA) marks Black Day as a visible stand against gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa. It is a day where players wear black to mourn victims, support survivors and unite in solidarity against a persistent social crisis.
Sana struck a whirlwind 60 (41 balls, 3x4, 5x6), along with Sadaf Shamaz's 97 (82 balls, 16x4, 1x6), to power Pakistan to an imposing 306/8 before the skipper returned with the ball to rock the Proteas' top-order.
After Tasmia Rubab had already removed opener Tazmin Britz, Sana picked up the big wicket of her counterpart Laura Wolvaardt, beautifully caught at slip, before dismissing Sune Luus two balls later to leave the Proteas at 7/3.
The in-form Annerie Dercksen and Faye Tunnicliffe attempted the restoration job with an 85-run partnership for the fourth wicket, but the Pakistan spinners maintained the squeeze throughout.
Tunnicliffe looked composed at the crease while compiling her 47 off 51 balls before the Western Province batter chipped a flighted delivery meekly back to Nashra Sandhu.
Dercksen found another willing partner in wicket-keeper Sinalo Jafta with the pair adding another 50 runs for the fifth wicket. The experienced Proteas keeper has transformed her batting gameplans under coach Mandla Mashimbyi, and fresh off her maiden ODI fifty a couple of matches ago, is playing with a great deal of confidence.
Jafta used her feet to the spinners to drive them down the ground and also rocked back to cut fiercely behind point when they dropped short.
Her eventual dismissal was hugely unfortunate as she was also caught-and-bowled for 33 off 34 balls.
Unfortunately for the Proteas, Dercksen (54 off 67 balls) followed shortly after reaching her second fifty of the series when she became the third batter to be caught-and-bowled.
The run-chase filtered away from thereon with Pakistan dismissing the Proteas for 187.
Shamaz had earlier benefited from a sloppy effort from the home team in the field. The Pakistan opener was offered a reprieve early on when Proteas opening bowler Ayanda Hlubi overstepped. It was hugely disappointing for the young seamer as it was the perfect off-cutter that rattled the stumps.
But Shamaz grew in confidence after the let-off with a boundary down to fine-leg two balls later that kick-started her innings.
Shamaz was particularly severe on Tumi Sekhukhune (0/38 from four overs) after the medium-pacer was recalled to the side.
The opener dominated a 130-run partnership for the second wicket with Sidra Amin (41 off 64 balls) before Sana's power-hitting display at the death.
The Proteas’ outfield catching also left a lot to be desired with eight chances being put down.
Proteas off-spinner Sune Luus (3/42) pegged back the visitors during the middle period. Luus picked up the big wicket of Shamaz - just three runs shy of her century - when the opener chipped the ball back straight to her, but overall the day belonged to the Pakistanis.
SCORECARD
Pakistan: 306/8 (Shamaz 97, Amin 41, Sana 60, Luus 3/42, Mlaba 2/56)
South Africa: 187 all (Dercksen 54, Tunnicliffe 47, Iqbal 3/41 Sana 2/29)
Pakistan won by 119 runs, South Africa win series 2-1