By Razeen Gutta
South Africa kept their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup hopes alive with a tense two-wicket win over Pakistan at Edgbaston on Wednesday.
After turning a straightforward 127-run chase into a late scare, the Proteas did manage to get off the mark in the group stages.
Annerie Dercksen was named player of the match after a bold 52 off 35 balls, while Nadine de Klerk added a crucial 37 off 28.
Their efforts dragged the Proteas home after a mid-innings collapse threatened to undo a dominant bowling display.
“Points in the bag is all that matters today,” captain Laura Wolvaardt told reporters post-match.
“A little scratchy and not how we wanted it to pan out, but there are positives,” she added.
South Africa had dismantled Pakistan early with the ball.
Marizanne Kapp struck with the first delivery, removing Muneeba Ali, before adding Gull Feroza and Ayesha Zafar to leave Pakistan 14/4.
Shabnim Ismail applied relentless pressure and two sharp run outs saw Pakistan slide to 33-6.
At 50-8, a rout looked certain, but captain Fatima Sana’s gritty half century helped her side add 71 for the ninth wicket with Tuba Hassan, lifting Pakistan to 126.
The chase wobbled at 76-4 and 107-6, and when De Klerk fell at 126-8, one run was still needed. The tail edged South Africa over the line.
Wolvaardt praised Kapp and Ismail’s opening spells and highlighted Dercksen’s aggression at number three ahead of a key clash with India’s spinners on Sunday.
Pictured above: Proteas vs Pakistan
Source: @proteaswomencsa
