Chaos, Confusion, Calamity

There’s always a sense of chaos when watching the Pakistan team. Moments of brilliance matched with moments of confusion. They provided plenty of both in what was ultimately the most entertaining match of this tournament to date.

Both teams entered this match needing to win. Pakistan had lost heavily to India, while South Africa felt the sting of the Australians.

Fatima Sana won the toss at Edgaston and elected to bat first. The first ball of the match saw a rip snorter from Marizanne Kapp who trapped Muneeba Ali in front. Not to be content with that, she smashed a delivery into the stumps to dismiss Gull Feroza and then for good measure dismissed Ayesha Zafar. Pakistan’s top three gone for just 14 runs.

Ayabonga Khaka came to the party and removed Natalia Pervaiz. 14/4. It became 29/5 and then 33/6. It looked at one stage as if Pakistan wouldn’t bat out the Powerplay. At 45/7 Pakistan were all at sea. Bad enough that the bowlers were striking, but Pakistan batters helped South Africa with two bizarre runouts.

Then there was another runout, which on looking at the replay, the South African skipper might have considered recalling the batter. Nadine de Klerk was bowling to Nashra Sandhu who hit the ball to mid on and started running. In trying to stop the ball, de Klerk collided with Fatima Sana and both fell to the ground. Fatima was clearly impeded by the bowler and Nashra was left stranded. Wicket keeper Sinalo Jafta hesitated, waited for a nod and removed the bails. Fatima and de Klerk were still helping each other off the turf. It wasn’t a good look and it meant Pakistan were now 50/8.

Last month Fatima Sana scored the fastest half century in women’s T20 Internationals against this same team. Whether spurred on by the runout, or just a love of punishing South African bowlers, the Pakistan skipper took her team to 126/9. She had a willing partner in Tuba Hassan (23) who is a genuine number eleven batter. Tuba drew on the best of her slight batting ability, giving singles to her skipper, rotating the strike in what ended up as a record 9th wicket stand for Pakistan in T20 Internationals of 71 runs. (It was the second highest of all time, just shy of 76 by Austria v the Czech Republic in 2024.)

Pakistan needed early wickets and it was the captain who clean bowled Sune Luus, but the match then drifted as Annerie Dercksen (52) and Nadine de Klerk (37) settled things down for a calm finish. But not quite. The Pakistan bowlers weren’t done and it ended up in a nail biting finish, South Africa home by 2 wickets.

Player of the Match was Annerie Dercksen with her 52, but what isn’t written in the score book are the number of boundaries saved while she was fielding. She was easily South Africa’s best with both bat and in the field. It could easily have gone to Fatima Sana. Her 55 not out and 3-16 was a lone effort for Pakistan.

Scores:

Pakistan 126/9 (Fatima Sana 55*, Tuba Hassan 23, Marizanne Kapp 3-23) lost to
South Africa 127/8 (Annerie Dercksen 52, Nadine de Klerk 37, Fatima Sana 3-16,  Sadia Iqbal 2-26, Tuba Hassan 2-28) by 2 wickets

POTM: Annerie Dercksen