PAK-W vs SA-W 2024, 2nd T20I review: Pakistan women make stellar comeback to level series

Pakistan women and South Africa women continued their ongoing three-game T20I series by facing off in the second T20I. Both sides locked horns at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, September 18. It is worth noting that the visitors had won the first T20I and were looking for a second straight win. 

The second T20I, however, began with Pakistan women coming in to bat first after losing the toss. The side got off to a subpar start to the innings as opener Gull Feroza departed for just 10 runs in 11 deliveries. However, her partner Muneeba Ali played a knock of 45 runs to stabilise the innings. 

Sidra Amin and Nida Dar scored 28 and 29 runs, respectively, with Fatima Sana and Aliya Riaz staying unbeaten on scores of 37 and 17 runs, respectively. In the first innings, Pakistan women managed to post a total of 181 runs and just lost four wickets in the process. 

As for the visitors, Tumi Sekhukhune was the highest wicket-taker for South Africa women in the first innings, with two wickets to her name. Sune Luus and Annerie Dercksen took one wicket each as well. 

Aiming to chase down a target of 182 runs, South Africa women opened their innings with Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits scoring 36 and nine runs, respectively. Anneke Bosch scored 24 runs, alongside Nadine de Klerk, who added 12 runs onto the scoreboard. 

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After the shaky start to the run chase, the visitor’s middle order aimed to stabilise the game. Sune Luus and Chloe Tryon put in exceptional efforts to get their side over the line. Luus scored 53* runs in 29 deliveries, alongside Tryon, who went unbeaten for a score of 30 runs. However, their knocks were not enough to propel South Africa women to a win. 

The hosts limited South Africa to a score of 168 runs in the second innings, winning the game by 13 runs and levelling the series. Sadia Iqbal and Nashra Sandhu were the only wicket-takers for Pakistan women in the second innings, with two wickets each to their names.