South Africa Women defeated Pakistan Women by 6 runs in the 9th match of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2022. Pakistan could only manage 217 in reply to the Proteans 223-9 in the 50 overs.
Here’s how the match proceeded:
Bismah Mashroof, the Pakistani women’s skipper, won the toss and elected to bowl first at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui.
The Proteans had a patchy start, losing the first 2 wickets in the span of 21 runs. Lizelle Lee and Tazmin Brits contributed only 2 runs each in the team’s total tally.
At 21-2 in 7.4 overs, the South African skipper Sune Luus formed a rational, risk-free 89 runs stand for the 3rd wicket with Laura Wolvaardt. Together they steadied the South African innings to post a decent total on the board.
Wolvaardt, batting on 75 off 91, including 10 fours, was softly dismissed through a caught and bowled by Fatima. In the same over, the Proteans lost their 4th wicket when Fatima struck again to claim her 2nd of the three wickets in the day.
While wickets kept plummeting on the one end, the skipper kept the other end intact until the 48th over. Luus contributed 62 off 102, including 2 fours and a six, departing in the 48th over when was trapped leg before by Fatima Sana.
Tyron and Chetty each scored a quickfire 31 to provide a late surge in the South African innings. The Proteans finished with 223 runs to defend against the Pakistani batters.
Chasing 224, Pakistan lost early wickets and found themselves stranded on 26-2 in the 7 overs. Omaima Sohail and Nahida Khan stabilized the Pakistani innings for a while with a solid 69 run stand for the 3rd wicket.
Nahida’s dismissal brought Nida Dar on the crease, who batted exceptionally well with Omaima to form a healthy partnership of 49 runs. At 144-3, Pakistan was cruising towards a win, but Omaima’s wicket put the breaks on their chase.
Omaima played a handy knock of 65 off 104 stuffed with 7 fours before giving way to Aliya Riaz in the middle. Riaz, Fatima and Nawaz lost their wickets in quick succession, leaving Pakistan in all sorts of trouble.
Pakistan needed 31 off the last four overs with Nida and Diana Baig in the middle. Diana shook the Protean nerves by gathering two quick boundaries, bringing the equation to 12 off 8. However, Nida Dar got run out on 55, and Diana Baig was caught and bowled on the 2nd delivery of the 50th over.
Pakistan folded up on 217 and ultimately lost the match by 6 runs to South Africa Women.