LAHORE – South Africa Women sealed a historic 25- run victory over Pakistan Women in the second ODI at Gaddafi Stadium on Friday, clinching the three-match series 2–0.
In a rain-affected contest reduced to 46 overs per side, the visitors showcased batting brilliance through Tazmin Brits’ career-best 171 not out and Laura Wolvaardt’s composed century, before holding their nerve in the death overs to deny Pakistan what would have been their highest successful ODI chase.Pakistan, chasing a revised target of 313 runs in 46 overs under the DLS method, fought valiantly, led by Sidra Amin’s magnificent 122 and Natalia Pervaiz’s fluent 73, but were eventually bowled out for 287 in 44.4 overs.
Put into bat after Pakistan won the toss, South Africa built their innings around a record 260-run opening stand between captain Laura Wolvaardt (100 off 129) and the in-form Tazmin Brits (171* off 141). The pair frustrated Pakistan’s bowlers with patience and precision, registering South Africa’s highest-ever partnership in Women’s ODIs for any wicket, surpassing their own mark of 243 against Bangladesh in 2023.
Wolvaardt’s ninth ODI century featured 10 fours, while Brits unleashed an array of strokes, striking 20 boundaries and 4 sixes to post the highest individual score of her career and her second hundred of the series. Their stand powered South Africa to 292/3 in 46 overs, equalling their highest total against Pakistan in ODIs. Pakistan’s chase got off to a shaky start with the early loss of Muneeba Ali, but Omaima Sohail (43 off 38) counter-attacked with flair. The innings came alive when Sidra Amin and Natalia Pervaiz added 146 runs for the fourth wicket, turning the contest into a nail-biting thriller.
Sidra, continuing her golden run, struck 13 fours in her 110-ball 122, her second century of the series and sixth overall in ODIs. Natalia Pervaiz complemented her brilliantly, scoring a career-best 73 off 60 balls with 7 boundaries, her maiden ODI fifty. Their partnership lifted Pakistan to 247/3 in the 38th over, within striking distance of a historic chase. But the pressure of the mounting run rate and South Africa’s death bowling shifted the momentum. Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk triggered a collapse, with Pakistan losing their last seven wickets for just 40 runs. Despite Omaima Sohail’s earlier cameo (43) and Sidra Nawaz, Fatima Sana, and others chipping in, Pakistan were bowled out for 287.
For South Africa, Nadine de Klerk (3/45) proved decisive in the closing stages, while Chloe Tryon (2/55) and veterans Marizanne Kapp (2/37) and Masabata Klaas (1/28) picked crucial wickets to stall Pakistan’s charge.South Africa’s win gave them an unassailable 2–0 lead in the series. The third and final ODI will be played on September 22 at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
SCORES IN BRIEF
SOUTH AFRICA WOMEN 292-3 in 46 overs (Tazmin Brits 171*, Laura Wolvaardt 100; Diana Baig 2-45) beat PAKISTAN WOMEN 287 all out in 44.4 overs (Sidra Amin 122, Natalia Pervaiz 73; Nadine de Klerk 3-45, Chloe Tryon 2-55, Marizanne Kapp 2-37) by 25 runs (DLS Method).
