Ameen, Maroof fifties lead Pakistan to consolation win
Written by I Dig SportsPakistan Women 186 for 2 (Ameen 68, Maroof 60*) beat South Africa Women 185 (de Klerk 60, Brits 32, Iqbal 2-26, Dar 2-31, Sandhu 2-37) by eight wickets
Aliya Riaz's entry was a cue for Pakistan to hurry to their target; she hit three fours in a Masabata Klaas over and raced to an unbeaten 19 off 14, while putting on an unbroken 37, off just 31 balls, with Maroof, who finished not out on 60 off 98. It was the former Pakistan captain's 19th ODI fifty.
South Africa chose to bat, and lost their captain Laura Wolvaardt before they had put a run on the board, with Sadia Iqbal bowling her in the first over. Tazmin Brits and Laura Goodall steadied the innings with a 35-run partnership off 41 balls, but the complexion of the game changed when Goodall retired hurt in the eighth over.
By the time Goodall came back in the 17th, South Africa had lost Brits and Sune Luus, and the returning No. 3 was out just two balls later to leave South Africa 64 for 4.
Marizanne Kapp and de Klerk helped them recover somewhat with a 36-run stand for the fifth wicket, but Pakistan kept a lid on the scoring: there was only one boundary hit from the 14th to 30th overs. It was in an effort to break out of this strangle that Kapp fell, failing to clear mid-off off Iqbal.
Delmi Tucker added a further 37 with de Klerk, but the innings began to unravel thereafter, as South Africa slipped from 137 for 5 to 145 for 8, with a run-out costing them the wicket of keeper-batter Sinalo Jafta.
Nos. 10 and 11 stuck around at the crease, with Ayabonga Khaka and Klaas spending a cumulative 29 balls at the crease while adding 15 and 25 with de Klerk, who was last out for 60 off 95 balls. South Africa were bowled out in 48.1 overs, with Sadia, Nashra Sandhu and Nida Dar picking up two wickets apiece.