Wolvaardt Leads SA to Last-Ball Win Over Pakistan in First T20I

News Desk

Potchefstroom: South Africa edged past Pakistan by five wickets in a thrilling last-ball finish in the first T20I at Senwes Park, overshadowing a magnificent career-best knock from Pakistan captain Fatima Sana.

After opting to bat, Pakistan found themselves in deep trouble at 64 for 6. However, Sana staged a remarkable fightback, smashing a sensational 90 off just 41 balls, laced with seven sixes and nine fours, to propel her side to a competitive 180 for 9 in their 20 overs.

Sana arrived at the crease in the 10th over following the fall of the sixth wicket and launched a counterattack that lasted until the final ball of the innings. Key overs in the death included 19 runs off Nonkululeko Mlaba in the 16th, 21 off Ayanda Hlubi in the 17th and another 19 off Ayabonga Khaka in the final over, as Pakistan surged to a challenging total.

For South Africa, Kayla Reyneke delivered an impressive all-round performance. She claimed 2 for 13 in her four overs, including a maiden, dismissing Gull Feroza and Natalia Pervaiz. Hlubi (3-41) and Mlaba also struck crucial blows, each picking up two wickets during the first half of Pakistan’s innings.

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/fatima-sana-eyes-historic-win-against-india/

In reply, South Africa made a brisk start, with Tazmin Brits hitting early boundaries before falling to Humna Bilal. Captain Laura Wolvaardt then anchored the chase with a fluent 61 off 38 balls, sharing a rapid 62-run stand with Sune Luus (32 off 20).

Wolvaardt reached her half-century in 31 balls, striking a six and a four off Umm-e-Hani in the 13th over. However, Pakistan fought back as Nashra Sandhu dismissed Wolvaardt and later removed Luus, triggering a middle-order wobble. Dane van Niekerk and Lara Goodall also fell in quick succession, leaving South Africa at 153 for 5 after 17 overs, needing 28 runs from the final three overs.

Reyneke once again stepped up, smashing crucial sixes off Ayesha Zafar and Fatima Sana to reduce the equation to 10 runs in the final over. With two runs required off the last ball, Reyneke sealed victory in dramatic fashion by launching Humna Bilal for a match-winning six.

South Africa finished on 185 for 5 in 20 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Brief Scores:

Pakistan 180/9 in 20 overs (Fatima Sana 90; Ayanda Hlubi 3-41, Kayla Reyneke 2-13)

South Africa 185/5 in 20 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 61, Sune Luus 32, Kayla Reyneke 29*; Nashra Sandhu 2-27)

South Africa won by 5 wickets.