KARACHI: The five-match Youth T20 International (T20I) series will go down to the wire after Pakistan under-19 claimed a six-wicket victory over the South Africa under-19 Women in Karachi on Wednesday, levelling the series at 2-2.
Pakistan successfully chased down the target of 110 after restricting South Africa to 109/8 in their 20 overs. An unbeaten partnership of 70 runs between Zoofishan Ayyaz (44*) and Fizza Fiaz (28) propelled the hosts to victory after a superb spell of bowling from spinner Respect Mabasa (3/25) had threatened their innings.
The visitors won the toss and elected to bat first. Opener Chanel Venter (1) fell to Rozina Akram (2/21) in the second over before Shreeya Subbiah (30) and Diedre van Rensburg (23) guided South Africa to 35/1 at the end of the powerplay. Van Rensburg departed three balls later, dismissed by Mah Noor (1/24).
Subbiah then combined with captain Mieke van Voorst (14) in a crucial 33-run partnership for the third wicket before Akram struck again in the 13th over to remove Subbiah. Van Voorst was then run out later in the same over.
With Pakistan continuing to apply pressure by claiming wickets at key moments, Chris-Mari Bezuidenhout (23*) anchored the closing stages of the innings as the SA U19 Women reached 109/8 from their 20 overs.
Mahnoor Zeb (2/18), Shahar Bano (1/24) and Ayyaz (1/6) were the other wicket-takers for Pakistan.
Chasing 110 to level the series, Pakistan made a measured start, with openers Komal Khan (15) and Ravail Farhan (18) keeping the South African bowlers at bay to reach 21/0 after six overs.
South Africa made the breakthrough in the eighth over through Mabasa, who dismissed Farhan. The visitors struck again in the 10th over, with Van Voorst (1/10) bowling Khan. Mabasa followed up with two quick wickets, removing Aqsa Habib (2) and Areesha Ansari (0) with consecutive deliveries to reduce Pakistan to 43/4 in the 11th over.
Tasked with rescuing the innings for the home side, Ayyaz and captain Fiaz put together a match-winning, unbeaten partnership to guide Pakistan over the line with four balls to spare and level the series at 2-2.
The fifth and deciding Youth T20I will take place on Friday, 24 July, from 19:00 local time (16:00 SAST) and will be broadcast live on the Pakistan Cricket Board’s YouTube channel.
SA U19 Women’s Squad
Mieke van Voorst (captain, Easterns), Chris-Mari Bezuidenhout (Mpumalanga), Daneli Boshoff (Boland), Jezé Campher (Garden Route Badgers), Jae-Leigh Filander (Western Province), Reabetswe Dithupe (North West), Miya Lalor (Western Province), Respect Mabasa (Limpopo), Makwana Moriri (Central Gauteng Lions), Rethabile Nthoba (Free State), Shreeya Subbiah (KZN Coastal), Melissa van der Merwe (Boland), Diedre van Rensburg (North West), Ashleigh Van Wyk (Easterns) and Chanel Venter (Titans).
Fixtures – Youth T20I Series
1st YT20I – SA U19 Women won by 4 wickets
PAK U19: 103/6 after 20 overs; A. Habib 38 (50), Z. Ayyaz 30 (40); A. van Wyk 3/15, M. Lalor 2/21
SA U19: 104/6 after 16 overs; C. Venter 41 (32), C. Bezuidenhout 22 (20); S. Bano 2/16, M. Nazakat 2/17
2nd YT20I – Pakistan U19 won by 47 runs
PAK U19: 125/4 after 20 overs: R. Farhan 68* (64), K. Khan 23 (24); M. Lalor 1/23, R. Dithupe 1/26
SA U19: 78 all out after 17.1 overs; D. van Rensburg 20 (24), M. van Voorst 16 (20); M. Zeb 3/21, M. Nazakat 2/8
3rd YT20I – SA U19 Women won by 52 runs
SA U19: 158/6 after 20 overs; M. van Voorst 57 (42), D. Boshoff 39* (20); M. Nazakat 2/29, M. Zeb 1/23
PAK U19: 106 all out after 18 overs; S. Bano 39 (22), A. Habib 17 (18); M. Lalor 2/14, Respect Mabasa 2/9
4th YT20I – Pakistan U19 won by 6 wickets
SA U19: 109/8 after 20 overs; S. Subbiah 30 (30), C. Bezuidenhout 23* (23); M. Zeb 2/18, R. Akram 2/21
PAK U19: 113/4 after 19.2 overs; Z. Ayyaz 44* (29), F. Fiaz 28* (27); R. Mabasa 3/25, M. van Voorst 1/10
Friday, 24 July at 16:00
5th Youth T20I – Pakistan U19 vs SA U19 Women (National Stadium, Karachi)
*All times above are SAST
Issued by: Cricket South Africa – Corporate Communications
