Karachi (Nayyab Abdul): Opening batter Ravail Farhan struck an unbeaten half-century and left-arm pacer Mahnoor Zeb picked up three wickets as Pakistan registered an emphatic 47-run victory against South Africa to level the five-match U19 women’s T20 series 1-1 here at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi on Friday night.
Pakistan, who were inserted in by the visitors, posted a competitive total of 125-4 in 20 overs led by player of the match Ravail’s 64-ball 68 not out comprising nine fours and two sixes and in turn dismissed South Africa for 78 in 17.1 overs with the trio of left-arm pacers Mahnoor Zeb, Mah Noor and Shahar Bano sharing six wickets.
Bano got the defence of the target off to a perfect start as she castled South Africa opener Chris-Mari Bezuidenhout for a first-ball duck, while Mahnoor Zeb bowled previous game’s player of the match Chanel Venter in the fourth over.
Diedre van Rensburg (20, 24b, 2x4s) and skipper Mieke van Voorst (16, 20b, 3x4s) stitched a 28-run stand but it was cut short by Mah Noor – who was making her maiden appearance for Pakistan women’s U19 - and with this breakthrough brought about a seven for 30 collapse for South Africa.
Mah Noor returned in the 11th over with South Africa 52-3 and cleaned up Makwana Moriri. South Africa kept on losing wickets as their top-scorer van Rensburg was run out by Fizza Fiaz, while left-arm spinner Maham Nazakat and Mahnoor Zeb dismissed two batters each after the 11th over to leave South Africa 78-9 with 17 balls left.
South Africa’s wicketkeeper-batter Jae-Leigh Filander was absent hurt. Mahnoor Zeb’s three for 21 was backed up by Maham’s two for eight in 3.1 overs, Mah Noor’s two for 19 in four overs and Bano’s one for 12 including a maiden in three overs.
Earlier, Ravail (68, 64b, 9x4s, 2x6s) and Komal Khan (23, 24b, 3x4s, 1x6) put on a strong 63-run opening stand before the latter departed in the ninth over. Ravail then kept the innings together by forming a 16-run stand with Zoofishan Ayyaz (11, 12b, 2x4s), 20-run stand with Raahima Syed, 14 runs with Fizza Fiaz – who was tactically retired in the last over – and 12 runs with Bano.
Ravail brought up her fifty off 49 balls and finished the innings with a flourish hitting the last two balls of the innings for a six and a four. For South Africa, Miya Lalor, Ashleigh van Wyk and Reabetswe Dithipe picked up one wicket each.
The third T20 match of the series will be played on Sunday, 19 July at the same venue with the first ball expected to be bowled at 7pm PKT.
Scores in brief:
Pakistan 125-4, 20 overs (Ravail Farhan 68 not out, Komal Khan 23; Miya Lalor 1-23)
South Africa 78 all out, 17.1 overs (Diedre van Rensburg 20; Mahnoor Zeb 3-21, Maham Nazakat 2-8, Mah Noor 2-19).
