South Africa vs Pakistan, 2nd WODI: All-round Dercksen helps South Africa clinch high-scoring thriller

Match Overview

South Africa and Pakistan faced off in the second women’s ODI of the three-match series at Centurion's SuperSport Park on February 25. Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana won the toss and elected to field first.

South Africa made the visitors regret their choice at the toss, notching up a mammoth 361 for 8 on the back of half-centuries from Annerie Dercksen (90 off 68), Tazmin Brits (77 off 62), Sune Luus (57 off 67) and quickfire cameos from Nadine de Klerk (49 off just 26) and Chloe Tryon (37 off 23).

South Africa made a rollicking start as Brits and Laura Wolvaardt added 55 in the first nine overs before Sadia Iqbal removed the latter. Brits dominated the second-wicket stand with Faye Tunnicliffe, scoring 38 off the 47 that the duo added before Syeda Aroob Shah cleaned up Tunnicliffe. Soon afterwards, left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu drew Brits forward and had her stumped.

Pakistan were taken to the cleaners from that point as Luus and Dercksen forged a 102-run partnership off 100 balls for the fourth wicket. Aroob pinned Luus lbw in the 38th over, while Sadia sent back wicketkeeper-batter Sinalo Jafta cheaply to bring some respite. But it was short-lived as Dercksen and Tryon made merry in their 31-ball 62 run stand for the sixth wicket.

Dercksen fell against the run of play to Pakistan skipper Fatima in the 45th over, only 10 short of a well-deserved century, but South Africa did not take the foot off the pedal. De Klerk slammed seven fours and a six in her brisk 49 to lift them to a mammoth total.

For Pakistan, Fatima, Aroob and Sadia took two wickets apiece, while Diana Baig chipped in with one.

The visitors, meanwhile, ran South Africa quite close as 361 played 345 despite a poor start. Dercksen was at her clinical best with the ball as well, removing opener Muneeba Ali and Sidra Amin cheaply inside the first six overs. However, Sadaf Shamas and Ayesha Zafar joined hands for a 97-run partnership off 87 balls to bring Pakistan back in the game.

Shamas departed for 61 off 62 with nine fours as Luus got the breakthrough in the 20th over, but Zafar continued to march with Natalia Pervaiz, adding 76 off just 60 for the fourth wicket before falling to  Nondumiso Shangase in the 30th over. Aliya Riaz perished on the very next ball as South Africa made a comeback, but Pakistan were in no mood to relent.

Skipper Fatima raced to 52 off just 36 with six fours and a six while adding 81 off 65 with Aroob (40 off 44) for the seventh wicket, but spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba pinned her lbw to once again shift the tide.

Aroob continued the fight with No. 9 Diana Baig, who scored an impressive 38 off just 25 with five fours and a six, but de Klerk broke the 34-run stand by removing Aroob. Diana farmed the strike in the last-wicket partnership of 31 in 19 with Sadia, but Mlaba eventually pinned the latter lbw to restrict the opposition 16 runs short and secure her team a 2-0 lead. 

Top run-scorer of the match

Top wicket-taker of the match

Player of the match

Annerie Dercksen

Dercksen was at her all-round best in Centurion, finishing as the top run-scorer as well as the top wicket-taker. After her 68-ball 90, laced with six fours and four sixes, took South Africa to a massive total, she returned to contribute with the ball, returning figures of 3 for 59 with wickets of opener Muneeba Ali, No. 3 Sidra Amin and Natalia Pervez.