Tauranga, March 11 (Agency) Shabnim Ismail’s three-wicket haul helped South Africa secure a narrow 6-run victory over Pakistan in their ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup match at the Bay Oval here on Friday. Pakistan, who were looking for their first win in a World Cup match since 2009, missed out on a really good chance thanks to Ismail’s final over. With just 10 runs needed to end the losing streak, Pakistan were bundled out for 217 while chasing a below par target of 224. Ismail bowled a slower ball to Diana Baig and then herself ran to midwicket to dismiss Baig (13). On another slower ball outside off, Ghulam Fatima, who wanted to get off strike, couldn’t get back to her crease and the wicket-keeper Trisha Chetty dislodged the bails and handed South Africa an unlikely victory.
With experienced campaigner Nida Dar (55) in the middle, Pakistan were cruising well in spite of losing the top-order. Dar and Baig went for a second run but Dar failed to make it to the crease thanks to Chloe Tryon’s superb throw and Ayabonga Khaka completed the rest. The match swung back in favour of South Africa as pressure mounted on Pakistan. Pakistan’s top-order once again failed to fire. Omaima Sohail (65) and Nahida Khan (40) added crucial runs but ended up consuming a lot of balls. Earlier, Laura Wolvaardt (75) and Sune Luus (62) dragged South Africa to 223/9. Pakistan chose to bowl first, with a hope that their seamers would be able to exploit the conditions.
Fatima Sana dismissed the big-hitter Lizelle Lee (2) and Diana Baig removed Tazmin Brits (2), reducing South Africa to 21/2 inside eight overs. Wolvaardt and skipper Luus got into rebuilding and added 89 runs for the third wicket. Ghulam Fatima, who last played an ODI in February 2017, rattled the South African middle-order, removing Wolvaardt, and incoming Mignon du Preez (0) and Marizanne Kapp (7) in quick succession. Left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu made her presence felt as she dried up the scores and also bagged the wicket of Chloe Tryon (31). Luus returned to the dug out after Fatima Sana trapped the South African lbw. Towards the end, Trisha Chetty added crucial 31 runs before becoming Fatima Sana’s third victim. Brief scores: South Africa 223/9 in 50 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 75; Fatima Sana 3/43, Ghulam Fatima 3/52) beat Pakistan 217/10 in 49.5 overs (Omaima Sohail 65, Nida Dar 55; Shabnim Ismail 3/41) by 6 runs.