The South Africa Under-19 Women claimed a memorable 3-2 Youth T20I series victory over Pakistan after rain handed the visitors a 17-run Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) win in Friday’s deciding match at the National Stadium in Karachi.

It marks South Africa’s first-ever Youth T20I series triumph over Pakistan, capping off an impressive tour in which the visitors bounced back twice before holding their nerve in the decider.

South Africa’s bowlers laid the foundation for the victory by restricting Pakistan to 128/6 from their 20 overs before an aggressive start with the bat left the tourists comfortably ahead of the DLS par score when rain brought proceedings to an early end.

Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first, making a solid start through openers Ravail Farhan and Kemal Khan. The pair guided the hosts to 36 without loss at the end of the powerplay before Melissa van der Merwe provided the breakthrough in the eighth over, dismissing Khan for 21 with the score on 43.

Farhan continued to anchor the innings and shared a 37-run partnership with the aggressive Shahar Bano, who struck 30 from just 19 deliveries, taking Pakistan to 85/1.

However, South Africa wrestled back control during the middle overs.

Ashleigh van Wyk and Daneli Boshoff struck in quick succession to halt Pakistan’s momentum before disciplined bowling at the death prevented the hosts from posting the total they had been building towards.

Boshoff finished with outstanding figures of 2/18, while Van Wyk claimed 2/22. Miya Lalor also chipped in with a wicket as Pakistan were restricted to 128/6.

Chasing 129 for the series, South Africa’s new opening pair immediately put Pakistan under pressure.

Lalor and Diedre van Rensburg attacked from the outset, racing to 45 without loss in just 5.4 overs. Lalor was unbeaten on 23 from 18 balls, while Van Rensburg had reached 18 not out from 16 deliveries when rain forced the players from the field.

After a delay of almost 90 minutes, conditions failed to improve and the match was called off, with South Africa declared winners by 17 runs under the DLS method.

The result sealed a deserved 3-2 series victory for the SA U19 Women after an impressive all-round performance across the five matches.

Youth T20I Series Results

  • 1st Youth T20I: South Africa U19 Women won by 4 wickets
    • Pakistan U19: 103/6 (20 overs)
    • South Africa U19: 104/6 (16 overs)
  • 2nd Youth T20I: Pakistan U19 Women won by 47 runs
    • Pakistan U19: 125/4 (20 overs)
    • South Africa U19: 78 all out (17.1 overs)
  • 3rd Youth T20I: South Africa U19 Women won by 52 runs
    • South Africa U19: 158/6 (20 overs)
    • Pakistan U19: 106 all out (18 overs)
  • 4th Youth T20I: Pakistan U19 Women won by 6 wickets
    • South Africa U19: 109/8 (20 overs)
    • Pakistan U19: 113/4 (19.2 overs)
  • 5th Youth T20I: South Africa U19 Women won by 17 runs (DLS)
    • Pakistan U19: 128/6 (20 overs) – Ravail Farhan 32 (34), Shahar Bano 30 (19); Daneli Boshoff 2/18, Ashleigh van Wyk 2/22
    • South Africa U19: 45/0 (5.4 overs) – Miya Lalor 23* (18), Diedre van Rensburg 18* (16)