ICC Women’s World Cup 2022: South Africa squeeze past Pakistan for six-run win
Categories: Cricket 2022
Pacer Shabnim Ismail snared two wickets in a nerve-racking final over to seal a thrilling six-run win for South Africa over Pakistan in a league stage match of the ICC Women’s World Cup on Friday (March 11). Defending 10 runs in the last over, Ismail (3/41) picked two wickets while giving away just three runs to power South Africa to their second win of the tournament.Earlier, South Africa overcame an excellent spell by spinner Ghulam Fatima (3/52) to post a competitive 223/9, riding on half-centuries by opener Laura Wolvaardt (75) and skipper Suner Luus (62). Their bowlers then sealed the deal despite Omaima Sohail (65) and Nida Dar’s (55) best efforts. However, Fatima snapped three wickets in two overs to derail South Africa's cruising innings and the Proteas were left reeling at 120/5 after 32 overs. Chloe Tryon (31) and Trisha Chetty (31) then shared a 55-run stand to help South Africa post a 200 plus score. She dismissed skipper Bismah Maroof for a duck in the very next ball but was unable to claim a hat-trick as Sohail saw off the delivery. “We were very clinical with the ball and the key moments we missed cost us, South Africa clinched those moments and they deserve to win,” a disappointed Maroof said later. A flurry of wickets again put the match in balance but with set batter Dar in the middle, Pakistan had the slight upper hand. Daina Baig (13) then joined the party, hitting a couple of boundaries to help the required run rate decrease.However, South Africa held their nerve to first effect Dar's run out in the penultimate over before Ismail's last over heroics.