First T20I: Pakistan women team beat South Africa in last ball thriller

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First T20I: Pakistan women team beat South Africa in last ball thriller
Source: File

Karachi: Pakistan women cricket team beat South Africa women by five wickets in the opener of the three-match T20I series at National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi on Friday night.

Pakistan won the toss and chose to field first. South African women's team scored 150 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in 20 overs. Pakistan team chased down 151 against South Africa on the last ball.

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South Africa's Tazmin Braith scored 78 runs and Captain Laura Wollwardt scored 44 runs, put together a solid 85-run partnership on 76 balls before Wolvaardt was taken over by Nashra Sindhu. Other batters, Nadine de Klerk and Sune Luus, managed to score 5 (4) and 1 (1), respectively

From Pakistan side, Nashra Sindhu, Sadia Iqbal and Fatima Sana got one wicket each.

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Despite losing first four wickets at regular intervals through runouts, Bismah Maroof’s 37 (30) being the highest number on Pakistan’s batting scorecard, set the tone for chase. Sidra Ameen scored 33 runs and Bismah Maroof (37) put up a valuable 30-run partnership. Muneeba Ali was looking good for her 17-ball 19 before she was run out by Luus and Kapp.

Then the responsibility comes down to Aliya Riaz, who emerged as the hero, hitting a boundary on the last ball to manage the highest successful run chase for Pakistan women in T20I history.

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Scores in brief:

SOUTH AFRICA 150-3 in 20 overs (Tazmin Brits 78, Laura Wolvaardt 44; Nashra Sandhu 1-20); PAKISTAN 151-5 in 20 overs (Bismah Maroof 37, Sidra Ameen 33; Marizanne Kapp 1-24).

South African Tazmin Brits was awarded Player of the match, for her magnificent 78. 

With this remarkable victory, Pakistan's women's team now leads the three-match T20I series 1-0, setting the stage for an exciting series ahead.

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Pakistan women will play against South African women in the second T20I on September 3 at the same venue.