In a thrilling display of skill and determination, Pakistan opener Sadaf Shamas scored an impressive 97 runs off just 82 balls, propelling her team to a formidable total of 306-8 in the third and final ICC Championship one-day international against South Africa at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead in Durban on Sunday. The tourists, batting first, set a challenging target after being asked to take the crease.
Captain Fatima Sana also shone with the bat, contributing a powerful 60 runs off just 41 balls in the closing overs. Her innings included three boundaries and five sixes, showcasing her ability to elevate the team score significantly, exceeding 300—the average score in women’s 50-over cricket at the venue by more than 50 runs.
Shamas, a 27-year-old right-hander, began her innings aggressively, putting pressure on the South African bowling attack right from the Power Play. She struck 16 boundaries and a six, even on a slow pitch that presented challenges for stroke play. Despite her remarkable effort, she fell short of a maiden century when South Africa’s Sune Luus, with figures of 3 for 42, deceived her with a flighted delivery, resulting in a straightforward return catch.
Fellow opener Gull Feroza had an unfortunate outing, dismissed by a no-ball before mis-timing a drive off Annerie Derckson, who claimed 1 wicket for 40 runs. However, Sidra Amin assisted Shamas effectively, adding 41 runs from 64 balls before being dismissed by Luus.
Umm-e-Hani’s promotion in the batting order did not yield desired results as she struggled to score, mustering only four runs from 20 balls. Nonetheless, she attempted to shift momentum but eventually fell to Luus, caught at long on.
Despite a batting display that showed promise, South Africa experienced another lackluster performance in the field, with 10 wides, five no-balls, and six dropped catches marking a disappointing outing.
South Africa holds a commanding 2-0 lead in the series, having won the previous matches by 37 and 16 runs in Bloemfontein and Centurion, respectively. They also took the preceding T20 International series 2-1.
The match also served as a poignant reminder of the ongoing fight against Gender-Based Violence in South Africa, being the sixth ‘Black Day’ aimed at raising awareness and funds for this critical cause.
The teams for South Africa included: Laura Wolvaardt (captain), Tazmin Brits, Faye Tunnicliffe, Sune Luus, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta (wkt), Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Tumi Sekhukhune, Ayanda Hlubi, and Nonkululeko Mlaba. Pakistan’s lineup featured: Gull Feroza, Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Amin, Ayesha Zafar, Najiha Alvi (wkt), Fatima Sana (captain), Syeda Aroob Shah, Umm-e-Hani, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal, and Tasmia Rubab.
The series highlighted Pakistan’s resilience and potential, leaving fans hopeful for a stronger performance in future matches.