Annerie Dercksen produced a superb all-round effort to propel the Proteas Women to a high-scoring 16-run win against Pakistan in the second ICC Women’s Championship One-Day International (ODI) at Centurion on Wednesday. The home team takes an unassailable 2-0 lead in the final match.
Dercksen top-scored with a 68-ball 90 (6 fours, 4 sixes) alongside Tazmin Brits (77 off 62 balls; 10 fours, 2 sixes) and Suné Luus (57 off 67 balls; 4 fours) to steer South Africa to a dominant 361/8 in their 50 overs. Pakistan fought hard with the bat, scoring a valiant 345 all out in 49.5 overs and falling short of the target despite fifties from Sadaf Shamas (61), Ayesha Zafar (75) and Fatima Sana (52).
After being asked to bat, opening pair Laura Wolvaardt (20) and Tazmin Britten got the Proteas Women off to a good start, racing to a 50-run partnership before Sadia Iqbal (2/65) removed the captain in the ninth over.
South Africa reached the end of the powerplay at 64/1 with the British continuing to put pressure on the visiting bowlers. The opener guided the total past the 100-run mark as she brought up her half-century, before Aroob Shah (2/49) bowled Faye Tunnicliffe (7) to leave the hosts at 110/2 during the first drinks break.
With the British in control, Nashra Sandhu (1/79) claimed the opening batsman’s crucial wicket and dismissed her through stumping in the 19th over. The breakthrough did little to slow Proteas Women’s momentum as Luus and Dercksen combined for a half-century partnership for the fourth wicket, steering the home side to 178/3 after 30 overs.
Luus batted calmly and raised her bat for the second successive half-century and twentieth fifty of her ODI career before becoming Shah’s second wicket of the afternoon. Despite Luus’ departure, Dercksen continued her impressive innings and registered her third ODI half-century. However, South Africa suffered another setback with the dismissal of Sinalo Jafta (6), reducing the hosts’ tally to 234/5 in the 40th over.
With a solid foundation in place, the Proteas Women accelerated in the final 10 overs. Aggressive contributions from Chloé Tryon (37) and Nadine de Klerk (49) provided strong support for Dercksen’s excellent knock as the home side closed on their second-highest ODI total.
Fatima Sana (2/72) and Diana Baig (1/82) claimed wickets late in the innings but could not stop the Proteas Women’s late surge.
In pursuit of the imposing target, Pakistan suffered early setbacks as Dercksen (3/59) removed Muneeba Ali (5) and Sidra Amin (9) during the powerplay. A steady recovery followed, with Shamas and Zafar combining for a 50-run partnership to guide the visitors to 80/2 after 15 overs.
Shamas continued her good form and produced her second half-century in as many matches as Pakistan went past the 100-run mark. The right-hander’s innings finally came to an end when she was caught in the deep off the bowling of Suné Luus (1/34), capping off a valuable 97-run partnership.
Despite the breakthrough, Pakistan continued to attack the target. Zafar celebrated her fifth ODI half-century to steer the visitors to 153/3 at the halfway mark, with 209 runs still needed for victory. Zafar was eventually undone by Nondumiso Shangase (2/30) in the 30th over. The dismissal caused a collapse as Shangase struck again on the next ball to remove Aliya Riaz (0). Pakistan then lost another wicket in quick succession, with Natalia Pervaiz (27) becoming Dercksen’s third scalp.
Needing 163 runs from the remaining overs, Pakistan responded with a spirited counter-attack. Sana and Aroob Shah (40) combined for an impressive 81-run partnership, with Sana registering a well-composed half-century before being trapped LBW by Nonkululeko Mlaba (2/68) in her landmark 50th ODI.
Pakistan continued to fight as Shah and Diana Baig (35*) added valuable late runs. However, Nadine de Klerk (2/66) struck twice in the 47th over to consolidate South Africa’s grip on the match. The final wicket fell on the penultimate delivery of the match, with Mlaba claiming her second to seal the win and secure the series.
The third and final ODI marks the fifth Black Day ODI and will take place at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium on Sunday, March 1, from 10am SAST.
Proteas Women’s ODI Squad:
Laura Wolvaardt (Fidelity Titans) (Captain), Tazmin Brits (DP World Lions), *Fay Cowling (DP World Lions), Nadine de Klerk (World Sports Betting Western Province), Annerie Dercksen (Garden Route Badgers), Lara Goodall (World Sports Betting Western Province), Ayanda Hlubi (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), Karabo Meso (DP World Lions), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tumi Sekhukhune (DP World Lions), Nondumiso Shangase (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Chloé Tryon (DP World Lions) and Faye Tunnicliffe (World Sports Betting Western Province)
*Uncovered
Match Schedule – Proteas Women’s Inbound Tour vs Pakistan
Sunday March 1 at 10am – Black Day ODI – 3rd IWC ODI: South Africa vs Pakistan (Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium, Durban)
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