Pakistan Women defeat South Africa in first T20I

Pakistan Women defeated South Africa in the first T20I of the five-match series by seven wickets on Wednesday.

Chasing a below par score of 120 runs, Pakistan got off to a bad start as they lost their opener Javeria Rauf (0) in the very first over bowled by Marizanne Kapp.

Omaima Sohail and skipper Bismah Maroof stitched a brief partnership of 28 runs, but their stand was cut short as Tumi Sekhukhune dismissed Sohail (10) in the sixth over, reducing the team to 29 for two.

But Maroof found a partner in Nida Dar and they both stitched together a partnership of 89 runs, taking the team almost over the line. Dar (53) was dismissed by Masabata Klaas in the 17th over.

Iram Javed and Maroof, however, took Pakistan over the line by seven wickets with 12 balls to spare. Maroof and Javed remained unbeaten on 53 and 1, respectively.

Earlier, Chloe Tryon's knock of 43 runs off just 31 deliveries enabled South Africa to post 119 runs on board for the loss of seven wickets in the allotted twenty overs.

South Africa had a dismal start to their innings as they lost both their openers Lizelle Lee and Tazmin Brits for a duck, reducing the team to 1 run for the loss of two wickets.

South Africa kept losing wickets at regular intervals and at one stage, the team was reduced to 61 for six and posting a challenging score was looking difficult for the hosts.

Tryon and Shabnim Ismail stitched together a partnership of 54 runs to take the team to a respectable score in the allotted twenty overs.

Pakistan and South Africa will take on each other in the second T20I on May 18.