Javeria Khan, Anam Amin and rain deny SA a 3-0 sweep
Pakistan women 127 for 6 (Javeria 56*, Imtiaz 29, Shangase 3-20, Sekhukhune 2-15) beat South Africa women 68 for 4 (du Preez 24*, Amin 2-14) by eight runs via DLS method
After being swept 3-0 in the ODI series and losing the first two T20Is, Pakistan women ended their South Africa tour with a consolation victory in a rain-hit third T20I in Durban. After being put into bat, the visitors made 127 for 6 in their 20 overs, with captain Javeria Khan top-scoring for them with an unbeaten 56 off 50 balls. Rain then interrupted South Africa women’s chase and they were behind the asking rate when a second spell of rain forced an end to the match.
Left-arm fingerspinner Anam Amin had jolted South Africa early by getting Anne Bosch (13) and Marizanne Kapp (1). When Lara Goodall fell, they slipped to 45 for 4 in the tenth over and there would be no way back for them. Du Preez who top-scored for South Africa with 24 not out off 23 balls was the only batter to strike at over 100 in the chase.
In the first innings, Pakistan went through the powerplay unscathed before losing the wickets of Ayesha Zafar and Muneeba Ali in successive overs. Tumi Sekhukhune and Nondumiso Shangase made further inroads to reduce Pakistan to 66 for 5 in the 13th over. However, Javeria Khan and Kainat Imtiaz propped them up with a 61-run stand off 43 balls.
Khan, who had missed the first two T20Is due to a finger injury, batted through the innings in the third while Imtiaz was dismissed off the last ball. Khan was particularly severe on Shabnim Ismail, taking her for 21 off 15 balls. Shangase was the pick of the bowlers for South Africa with 3 for 20.
Graeme Smith, CSA director of cricket, praised the South Africa team for their 2-1 series win and Pakistan for visiting the country in the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic.
“All in all we are very proud of head coach Hilton (Moreeng) and his team,” Smith said in a media release. “The women’s game is continuing to make great strides and this is really exciting for all South Africans.
“Finally I must also thank the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for undertaking the trip to our country during these difficult times. As we have seen with Covid-19, the sporting landscape has changed dramatically and we feel honoured to have hosted them during an incident-free tour.”