South Africa edged Pakistan by two wickets with three overs to spare in a tense T20 World Cup contest that swung repeatedly before a late fielding lapse decided the result.
Brief scores: South Africa 127 for 8 (Annerie Dercksen 52, Nadine de Klerk 37; Fatima Sana 3 for 16) beat Pakistan 126 for 9 (Fatima Sana 55 not out; Marizanne Kapp 3 for 23, Shabnim Ismail 1 for 15) by two wickets.
What looked set to become a heavy defeat for Pakistan did end in loss, but not before Fatima Sana dragged her side back into contention with a remarkable unbeaten 55 from 38 balls.
South Africa dominated the first half of the match. Marizanne Kapp struck first ball, trapping Muneeba Ali lbw, then removed Gull Feroza with a delivery that held its line and hit the top of middle and off stumps. Kapp later yorked Ayesha Zafar in front of the stumps, while Ayabonga Khaka had Natalia Pervaiz drag on in the next over. Pakistan collapsed to 55 for eight, undone by four run-outs as well as sharp bowling.
Sana’s late assault lifted Pakistan to 126. She scored 42 of her runs from the final 19 balls, including 19 in the last over after Kapp had finished her spell, turning a hopeless total into one Pakistan could briefly defend.
The chase began awkwardly for South Africa. For four overs they managed only 20, and Sana removed Sune Luus to keep the pressure on. Annerie Dercksen then changed the game in the middle overs, hammering 21 in an over off Rameen Shamim with clean power through mid-on and midwicket — including the two biggest sixes of the match.
Dercksen’s 52 eased South Africa toward a comfortable position, needing 51 from 63 balls with eight wickets in hand when she departed. Pakistan fought back with regular wickets and sloppy fielding at both ends — Sana herself dropped two chances — yet could not close the door.
Even with the scores level, Sana dismissed Nadine de Klerk to leave South Africa eight down. Pakistan still lost when a wide down leg leg-side released the pressure and handed the hosts victory.
Run-out woes hurt Pakistan
Three of Pakistan’s four run-outs were especially costly. Rameen Shamim was caught short after losing sight of the ball and arguing with Iram Javed, who soon set off for an impossible single to short midwicket. Nashra Sandhu was run out when Sana tripped over the bowler and sacrificed her partner. By then Pakistan were 55 for eight.
Sana’s rescue act
Sana took the innings deep at 80 for eight in the 15th over before accelerating sharply once Kapp was done, finishing with an unbeaten half-century that gave Pakistan a fighting score.
Dercksen’s match-turning knock
While teammates struggled for fluency, Dercksen batted with freedom in the powerplay and middle overs, finding gaps and clearing the rope repeatedly to put South Africa in control despite the late wobble.