CRICKET NEWS - The Momentum Proteas got their 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup campaign off to a winning start when they beat Pakistan by three wickets at Grace Road in Leicester on Sunday. This win marks the side’s highest-ever World Cup run chase after they were set a 207-run target by Sana Mir’s charges.
Pakistan ended their innings on 206/8, their highest World Cup total, after being asked to bat first. Nahida Khan was led the batting effort, hitting a 101-ball 79, including nine fours and a six. After the initial breakthrough by Marizanne Kapp (1/48) seeing the end of Ayesha Zafar for nine in the second over, Khan spearheaded a 33-run, second-wicket stand with Javeira Khan (17), before she was run out by Shabnim Ismail off the bowling of Kapp.
It was downhill from there, with no one getting more than Asmavia Iqbal’s 27 (38 balls). Moseline Daniels (2/21) and Ismail (2/52) returned two wickets each, while Suné Luus (1/18) and captain, Dané van Niekerk (1/14) took one a piece.
South Africa’s batting reply got off to an excellent start with Lizelle Lee (60) and Laura Wolvaardt (52) sharing a 113-run opening stand. The former was trapped in front by opposing skipper, Mir, but things got dicey when the latter, while batting with Trisha Chetty, was run out by Zafar at the start of the 31st.
