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In the ninth match of the ongoing ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, South Africa defeated Pakistan by six runs during a thrilling contest ♔ꦜat Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Friday.
Put to bat first, the Proteas posted 223/9 on the board in their allotted 50 overs, thanks to respective half-centuries by opener Laura Wolvaardt and captain Sune Luus. Wolvaardt top-scored for her side with 75 off🍰 91 balls, including 10 boundaries. Similarly, Luus smashed 62 from 102 deliveries with the help of🌃 three boundaries.
Chloe Tryon (31 off 38) and Trisha Chetty (31 off 26) made some valuable contributions down the order to help South Africa reach a decent total. For Pakistan, Fatima Sana (3/43) and Ghulam Fatima (3/52) both bagged three wickets each.
In reply, the match went down to the wire, where South Africa eventually bundled out Pakistan for 217 in 49.5 over🦩s to win the nail-biting 🍰contest by only six runs.
Omaima Sohail (65 off 104) and Nadia Dar (55 off 72) smashed brilliant half-c𒆙enturies but not enough support from the lower-order restricted Pakistan to register a victory.
For South Africa, experienced campaigner Shabnim Ismail bagged three wickets while conceding 41 runs in 9.5 overs. Apart from Shabnim, Marizanne Kapp (2/43) and Ayabonga Khaka (2/43) also picked up a couple of scalps each.
South Africa have reached the third spot in the points table while Pakistan fell down to the last po🅠sition.
“As a strike bowler, I like to come out at the death. I was always confident (of taking that catch in the final over). I love catches, that was 100 per cent mine. I don’t take a lot of catches during warm-ups, but I always back myself. I think the batters need to put their heads down and bat. But as long as we’re winning, it’s alright,” said Shabnim after the match.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
What a finish that was🤯 💪
📷 ICC/Getty
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA)
win a thriller 👏
Shabnim Ismail's stunning final over helps them register a six-run victory against 🙌
— ICC (@ICC)
is one cricketer I enjoy watching.. Always there, 💧giving it her all on the field, and absolutely fun loving off it..
— WV Raman (@wvraman)
Four thrillers in 9 games in the World Cup so far. What a tournament we are getting to se✱e. So much more to come.
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad)
What a finish to the match, South Africa closing down back to back matches. They nee🌃d to do moℱre work as tough matches are on their way but bowlers have done a fantastic job. Hard luck, Pak.
— Bhawana (@cricbhawana)
Youngest player to reach 25 fifty-plus scores in Women's ODIs:
22 years – Laura Wolvaardt 🇿🇦
23 years – Stafanie Taylor 🏝️
25 years – Mithali Raj 🇮🇳
25 years – Smriti Mandhana 🇮🇳— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats)
South Africa defeat Pakistan by 6 runs.
— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan)
Shabnim Ismail remains one of the best women's fast bowlers in the world. Ice cold composure to see the game through. 🥶🙌🏽💥
— Gabi-Lee (@GabiLee_vdW)
Three matches ended with a win margin of less than 10 runs in the tournament so far, the most in an edition of Women's World Cup.
Four times a team won by a margin🍌 of fewer than 15 runs, which is al🌟so the highest in an edition of WWC.
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats)
Must be heartbreaking for Pakistan Women's team. Played so well today. South Africa have escaped big time.
— Abhishek (@abhishekr2502)
Ayabong𒈔a Khaka is such a banker. Game in and game out she delivers. The key to her success is keeping it simpel, tight and attacki🌟ng the stumps.
— Werner (@Werries_)
