Javeria Khan, Anam Amin secure consolation win for Pakistan in rain-affected T20I

For the nth number of time, the rain had a say in the result of the match that did not go South Africa's way after Pakistan skipper Javeria Khan set up the match with a half-century in the third T20I on Wednesday (February 2). Although the host fell eight runs short of the Duckworth-Lewis par score, they won the three-match T20I series 2-1.



After being asked to bat, Khan, who was back into the team after missing the first two matches due to finger injury, started the innings positively. With Ayesha Zafar, she kept the scoreboard moving by rotating the strike in the early overs.



Zafar broke the shackles by hitting back-to-back boundaries of Masabata Klaas and followed it up with another four in the over of Tumi Sekhukhune. Together, the openers added 30 runs before Nondumiso Shangase removed Zafar for 19 from 23 balls.



Four balls later, Sekhukhune dismissed Muneeba Ali for nought. Khan opened up by hit Shangase for a boundary. Nida Dar, who walked in number four played a little cameo as she smashed Klaas for a four and a six before getting out to Sekhukhune for a 14-ball 18.



A double breakthrough from Shangase saw Pakistan slump to 67 for five as the off-spinner dismissed Ayesha Naseem and Aliya Riaz off consecutive deliveries. Joined by Kainat Imtiaz, Khan tried to string a partnership. The duo slowly started accumulating the singles and doubles. They put the foot down and accelerated in the last three overs.



Javeria hit back-to-back boundaries of Ismail as they scored 14 runs off the seamer's final over. The Pakistan captain brought up her ninth T20I half-century in 46 balls. They managed to score 18 runs in the next two and finished the innings at 127 for six as Imtiaz got out to Klass in the last ball of the innings. While Imtiaz made 29 from 24 balls, Khan remained not out with 56 runs from 50 balls. Shangase was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets for just 20 runs in her four overs.



Chasing a moderate total, South Africa were off to a horrible start as they Faye Tunnicliffe and Marizanne Kapp early. While former was caught in a mix-up and was run-out by Aiman Anwer, Kapp lasted only four balls before getting bowled by Anam Amin. After three overs, they were grappling at six for two.



Joined by Mignon du Preez, Anneke Bosch tried to revive the innings. They hit occasional boundaries off Diana Baig, Amin and Anwer. However, Amin came back strongly to get rid of Bosch for 13 runs from 19 balls. Lara Goodall, too, did not last long as she got out to Nida Dar for a 13-ball 11.



With 77 runs required from 60 balls, du Preez and skipper Sune Luus started rotating the strike before rain interrupted the play. South Africa were stranded at 68 for four after 12.3 overs, eight runs behind the DLS par score. As the rain did not stop, Pakistan were eventually declared winners. They registered their first win and ended the tour on a positive note.



Brief Scores:



Pakistan: 127/6 in 20 overs (Javeria Khan 56*, Nondumiso Shangase 3/20) beat South Africa: 68/4 in 12.3 overs (Mignon du Preez 24*, Anam Amin 2/14) by eight runs via DLS method. POTM: Javeria Khan