South Africa U19 Women outclass Pakistan to take 2-1 T20 series lead

KARACHI: South Africa produced a clinical all-round display to defeat Pakistan by 52 runs in the third match of the five-match U19 Women's T20 series after successfully defending 158 at the National Bank Stadium on Sunday.

Captain Mieke van Voorst led from the front with a crucial 57 off 42 balls, featuring nine fours, after South Africa had slipped to 29-2 in 4.4 overs.

She also shared a match-defining 76-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Daneli Boshoff, as the visitors hammered 78 runs from the final 44 deliveries of their innings.

Pakistan made an encouraging start with Mahnoor Zeb dismissing opener Chanel Venter in the second over before Memoona Khalid produced a run-out to remove Shreeya Subbiah for 13 off 11 balls, including three fours.

Diedre van Rensburg then fell for 13 from 12 deliveries, with Maham Nazakat claiming her first wicket to leave South Africa struggling at 33-3 in 5.3 overs.

Van Voorst steadied the innings alongside Chris-Mari Bezuidenhout, who contributed 23 from 20 balls with two fours and a six.

The pair added 42 runs before Memoona broke the partnership in the 12th over. Left-arm pacer Mah Noor then dismissed Jeze Campher in the following over as South Africa were reduced to 80-5 in 12.4 overs.

Boshoff then shifted the momentum firmly in South Africa's favour with a blistering unbeaten 39 from just 20 deliveries, striking three fours and three sixes. 

Together with Van Voorst, she powered the visitors past the 150-run mark before Maham removed the South African captain in the final over.

Maham was Pakistan's standout bowler, returning figures of 2/29 to take her series tally to six wickets in three matches. Mah Noor, Mahnoor Zeb and Memoona claimed one wicket apiece.

In reply, Pakistan endured a disastrous start, losing five wickets for just 28 runs as South Africa's bowlers seized complete control.

Areesha Ansari and Shahar Bano attempted to revive the innings with a brisk 37-run stand from only 24 balls. However, the partnership ended in the 12th over with Pakistan on 65.

Bano once again impressed with an entertaining 39 off 22 balls, smashing five fours and two sixes before falling to a superb diving catch at long-on by Van Voorst. Pakistan's last three wickets added 29 runs, but the hosts were eventually bowled out for 106 in 18 overs.

For South Africa, off-spinner Respect Mabasa starred with outstanding figures of 2-9 from four overs, including a maiden. Miya Lalor and Melissa van der Merwe also claimed two wickets each, while Boshoff, Subbiah and Reabetswe Dithipe chipped in with one wicket apiece.

The fourth match of the series will be played at the same venue on Wednesday, 22 July, with the first ball scheduled for 7:00pm PKT.