Captain Mieke van Voorst produced a match-winning half-century as South Africa Under-19 Women defeated Pakistan by 52 runs in the third Youth T20I in Karachi on Sunday to move 2-1 ahead in the five-match series.

Van Voorst led from the front with a superb 57 from 42 deliveries, striking nine fours to help South Africa post an imposing 158/6. The bowlers then completed a dominant all-round performance by dismissing Pakistan for 106 in 18 overs.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat, South Africa found themselves under pressure early on as Pakistan reduced them to 33/3 inside the powerplay through Mahnoor Zeb, Maham Nazakat and a run out.

The skipper steadied the innings alongside Chris-Mari Bezuidenhout, with the pair adding 42 runs for the fourth wicket before Bezuidenhout departed for 23. Jezé Campher followed shortly afterwards, but Van Voorst continued to control the innings.

She then combined brilliantly with Daneli Boshoff to take the game away from the hosts. Boshoff blasted an unbeaten 39 from just 20 balls, including two fours and three sixes, while the pair added 76 runs from only 40 deliveries to lift South Africa to a formidable total. Van Voorst brought up a deserved half-century before falling in the final over.

Defending 159, South Africa’s bowlers struck immediately.

Miya Lalor, Melissa van der Merwe and Respect Mabasa shared the early wickets, while a sharp run out from Diedre van Rensburg left Pakistan struggling at 26/4 after the powerplay.

Shahar Bano tried to revive the innings with a quickfire 39 from 22 balls, but South Africa never allowed Pakistan to build any meaningful partnerships.

Lalor finished with 2/14, Mabasa claimed 2/9 and Van der Merwe picked up 2/20, while Reabetswe Dithupe, Boshoff and Shreeya Subbiah each chipped in with a wicket as Pakistan were bowled out with two overs remaining.

The victory gives South Africa a 2-1 lead heading into Wednesday’s fourth Youth T20I as they move within one win of clinching the series.

Fixtures – Youth T20I Series

(All times SAST)

Results

  • 1st Youth T20I: South Africa U19 Women won by 4 wickets
    • Pakistan U19: 103/6 (20 overs) – Aqsa Habib 38, Zoofishan Ayyaz 30; Ashleigh van Wyk 3/15, Miya Lalor 2/21
    • South Africa U19: 104/6 (16 overs) – Chanel Venter 41, Chris-Mari Bezuidenhout 22
  • 2nd Youth T20I: Pakistan U19 Women won by 47 runs
    • Pakistan U19: 125/4 (20 overs) – Ravail Farhan 68* (64), Komal Khan 23 (24); Miya Lalor 1/23, Reabetswe Dithupe 1/26
    • South Africa U19: 78 all out (17.1 overs) – Diedre van Rensburg 20 (24), Mieke van Voorst 16 (20); Mahnoor Zeb 3/21, Maham Nazakat 2/8
  • 3rd Youth T20I: South Africa U19 Women won by 52 runs
    • South Africa U19: 158/6 (20 overs) – Mieke van Voorst 57 (42), Daneli Boshoff 39* (20); Maham Nazakat 2/29
    • Pakistan U19: 106 all out (18 overs) – Shahar Bano 39 (22), Aqsa Habib 17 (18); Miya Lalor 2/14, Respect Mabasa 2/9

Upcoming Fixtures

  • Wednesday, 22 July – 16:00: 4th Youth T20I – Pakistan U19 vs South Africa U19 Women (National Stadium, Karachi)
  • Friday, 24 July – 16:00: 5th Youth T20I – Pakistan U19 vs South Africa U19 Women (National Stadium, Karachi)