MULTAN: South Africa delivered a clinical performance to beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the third women’s Twenty20 International here at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Friday and win the three-match series 2-1.

Chasing 154, the visitors rode on crucial knocks by captain Laura Wolvaardt, Anneke Bosch and Annerie Dercksen to wrap up the proceedings with nine balls to spare.

South Africa lost their opening batter Tazmin Brits for a duck in the first over to spinner Sadia Iqbal. At that stage of the game Wolvaardt and Bosch got together in the middle and added a crucial 81-run partnership for the second wicket.

Bosch after scoring a 37-ball 46, which included six fours and a six, got retired hurt. Wolvaardt was dismissed for a 37-ball 45, hitting two fours and as many sixes.

That the tourists were able to achieve the target with nine balls to spare was largely due to a quickfire unbeaten knock by Dercksen, who struck six fours and two sixes in a 23-ball 44. She was equally supported by Sune Luus (14 not out off 13, two fours) as the pair added an unbroken 51-run partnership for the third wicket.

For Pakistan, Sadia and fellow spinner Tuba Hassan bagged a wicket each.

Earlier, after being put into bat, Pakistan openers Muneeba Ali and Gull Feroza got off to a brisk start, adding 49 runs in the batting powerplay. Gull (18 off 18, three fours) was the first batter to return back to the hut with 50 runs on the board in 6.3 overs. Left-handed batter Muneeba after scoring a 26-ball 33, which included four boundaries run herself out in the 11th over.

Sidra Amin was joined by Nida Dar and the pair added 33 runs for the third wicket before Nida (12 off 7, one six) was bowled by Nonkululeko Mlaba.

Captain Fatima Sana was the next batter to return back to the hut not before playing a cameo of 27 off 17 balls, smashing two fours and a six. She stitched a 46-run partnership with Sidra for the fourth wicket.

Sidra was the top run-getter for the side, scoring 37 off 40 balls, hitting three fours. Aliya Riaz and Tuba returned undefeated on eight and six runs, respectively as the hosts scored 153-5 in their 20 overs.

The first match of the series was won by South Africa by 10 runs, while Pakistan took the second fixture by 13 runs.

Both sides will now travel to the United Arab Emirates AE to feature in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, which starts on Oct. 3.

South Africa, who are in Group ‘B’ alongside Bangladesh, England, Scotland and West Indies will fly from Lahore to Dubai on Saturday to participate in the mega event.

Pakistan, who are in Group ‘A’ alongside Australia, India, New Zealand and Sri Lanka will depart from Lahore on Monday morning.

Scores in brief:

PAKISTAN 153-5 in 20 overs (Sidra Amin 37, Muneeba Ali 33, Fatima Sana 27); SOUTH AFRICA 154-2 in 18.3 overs (Anneke Bosch 46 retired hurt, Laura Wolvaardt 45, Annerie Dercksen 44 not out, Sune Luus 14 not out).

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2024