Offspinner Nida Dar
led Pakistan women's bowlers in restricting South Africa women to 125 for 8,
before Bismah Maroof anchored a close chase to help the side home by four
wickets in the final over. The win was Pakistan's second in as many games in
the tri-series, and it ensures them a place in the final with the first South
Africa-Ireland game having been washed out.
South Africa chose
to bat and, though they lost their first wicket to seamer Qanita Jalil, they
were soon carved up by Dar. She picked up three wickets in four overs to have
South Africa reeling at 40 for 4 by the 21st. They never recovered. While they
batted out their overs, the Pakistan bowlers held a tight rein on the scoring
all through.
Pakistan suffered a
couple of hiccups in the chase. First they went from 15 for no loss to 16 for
2, and then from 61 for 2 to 90 for 5. Through much of the jitteriness, Maroof,
batting at No. 4, held firm. She made amends for getting out for a duck in the
previous match, batting through the innings for her 60. Only when the scores
were level, did she fall, run out by Shandre Fritz.
South Africa
captain Mignon du Preez said her side needed to adjust quickly to the
conditions. "We got a good taste of the conditions today but were
unfortunately unable to produce the win," she said. "The wicket is
definitely not what we are used to but we knew that before we arrived. The key
for us now is to pick ourselves up and use tomorrow to sharpen the skills that
fell short today.
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