KARACHI: Captain Mieke van Voorst delivered a crucial half-century to inspire the South Africa Under-19 Women to a 52-run victory over Pakistan in the third Youth T20 International (T20I) in Karachi on Sunday, giving the visitors a 2-1 lead in the five-match contest.
Van Voorst was named Player of the Match after striking nine fours on her way to a 42-ball 57, helping South Africa post a commanding 158/6. Two wickets apiece from Miya Lalor (2/14), Respect Mabasa (2/9) and Melissa van der Merwe (2/20) then saw Pakistan bowled out for 106 in 18 overs.
The SA U19 Women won the toss and elected to bat. The visitors recovered well after a tricky start, having been reduced to 33/3 in the powerplay following early breakthroughs from Mahnoor Zeb (1/23), Maham Nazakat (2/29) and a run-out.
The skipper then combined with Chris-Mari Bezuidenhout (23) in a stabilising 42-run partnership before the latter, along with Jezé Campher (2), departed in quick succession.
Van Voorst found another capable partner to take the game to the hosts late in the innings, sharing an outstanding 76-run partnership from just 40 deliveries with the explosive Daneli Boshoff (39* off 20 balls; 2 fours, 3 sixes). The captain brought up her half-century before becoming Nazakat’s second wicket in the final over.
With Pakistan set a daunting target to chase, South Africa piled on the pressure in the early stages of their defence. Lalor, van der Merwe and Mabasa removed the hosts’ top three batters before a run out from Diedre van Rensburg further reduced Pakistan to 26/4 after six overs.
Despite a valiant knock from Shahar Bano worth 39 off 22 balls, the SA U19 Women continued picking up wickets at regular intervals. Reabetswe Dithupe (1/21), Boshoff (1/11) and Shreeya Subbiah (1/18) also chipped in with wickets as Pakistan were eventually dismissed for 106 with two overs remaining.
The fourth Youth T20I will get underway at 19:00 local time (16:00 SAST) on Wednesday, 22 July at the National Stadium in Karachi.
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
Wednesday, 22 July at 16:00
4th Youth T20I – Pakistan U19 vs SA U19 Women (National Stadium, Karachi)
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
