KARACHI: South Africa under-19 Women sealed a 3-2 series triumph over Pakistan under-19 following a 17-run victory via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method in the fifth and final Youth T20 International (T20I) at the National Stadium in Karachi on Friday.
The tourists restricted Pakistan to 128/6, led by Daneli Boshoff (2/18) and Ashleigh van Wyk (2/22). In reply, explosive openers Miya Lalor (23*) and Diedre van Rensburg (18*) raced to 45/0 after 5.4 overs before rain halted play, with South Africa ahead of the DLS par score.
Earlier in the day, the toss fell in favour of the home side, who elected to bat first. That decision appeared to be the right one as opening pair Ravail Farhan (32) and Kemal Khan (21) took their side to 36/0 at the end of the powerplay. Their stand was eventually brought to an end on 43 runs after Melissa van der Merwe (1/27) claimed Khan’s wicket in the eighth over.
Despite the breakthrough, Pakistan continued to take the game on. Farhan added 37 runs with Shahar Bano (30) to propel the hosts to 85/1 shortly after the drinks break before back-to-back wickets from van Wyk and Boshoff disrupted Pakistan’s rhythm at the crease.
Disciplined bowling from the South Africans resulted in more wickets falling in the latter stages of the innings, with Van Wyk, Lalor (1/32) and Boshoff striking at crucial moments to restrict Pakistan to 128/6 from their 20 overs.
Needing 129 to secure a memorable series victory away from home, the new-look opening partnership of van Rensburg and Lalor raced out of the blocks for South Africa, guiding the SA U19 Women to 45/0 after 5.4 overs before rain interrupted play in Karachi.
After a delay of almost an hour and a half, the two teams shook hands, with South Africa securing victory via the DLS method to seal a maiden Youth T20I series win over Pakistan.
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).
Results – 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
5th YT20I – SA U19 Women won by 17 runs (DLS)
PAK U19: 128/6 after 20 overs; R. Farhan 32 (34), S. Bano 30 (19); A. van Wyk 2/22, D. Boshoff 2/18
SA U19: 45/0 after 5.4 overs; M. Lalor 23* (18), D. van Rensburg 18* (16); M Zeb 0/19, R. Akram 0/22
Issued by: Cricket South Africa – Corporate Communications
