Day 8 Talking Points: Fatima stars on World Cup debut, Ismail reliable as ever
Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui - 11 March 2022
M9 Match Highlights: Pakistan v South Africa | CWC22
Wicket-keeper Sidra Nawaz claimed a sharp chance falling to her right to dismiss the dangerous Lizelle Lee in just the third over but outdid herself shortly after with a screamer.
Pace bowler Diana Baig got just enough movement to catch the edge of Tazmin Brits’ bat but with the ball set to fall short of first slip Nawaz dived low and hard to her right to take a brilliant one-glove catch.
The two early dismissals involving Nawaz set up Pakistan for a good day in the field with Ghulam Fatima later diving forward to catch the in-form Laura Wolvaardt off her own bowling. But there will be few better catches in CWC22 than Nawaz’s effort to dismiss Brits.
Sidra Nawaz takes a screamer to dismiss Tazmin Brits
Laura Wolvaardt was dropped by Nida Dar off a tough chance in the gully while on only four runs, then set about making Pakistan pay.
The opener used her second chance to build an innings full of class and exquisite cover drives that made up the bulk of her 10 boundaries on the way to 75 off 91 balls.
It was Wolvaardt’s highest score in a World Cup and against Pakistan in ODIs, but it was more crucial for helping pull South Africa out of a hole after they had fallen to 21/2.
It took a fine delivery and sharp catch from leg-spinner Ghulam Fatima to dismiss Wolvaardt but by then the damage had been done.
Laura Wolvaardt with a classy and crucial knock
Ghulam Fatima made her World Cup debut against South Africa in only her fourth ODI and had an instant impact.
The leg-spinner delivered a match-turning spell that included three wickets in two overs and the key scalps of Laura Wolvaardt, Mignon du Preez and Marizanne Kapp.
The vital dismissals slowed the South African innings through the middle overs just as it looked like Wolvaardt and co were set to explode.
The 26-year-old Fatima will have a better idea of what to expect at the elite level especially after being attacked in the latter overs but still finished with impressive figures of 3/52.
WICKET: Wolvaardt falls to a sharp diving catch
Shabnim Ismail seldom disappoints for South Africa whenever called upon and the game against Pakistan was no different. She was lethal in either side of the innings and played a crucial role in South Africa's thrilling six-run win.
First, she broke the budding opening partnership between Nahida Khan and Sidra Ameen, dismissing the latter in the sixth over and followed it up with the wicket of skipper Bismah Maroof for a golden duck. The two wickets pegged Pakistan back early, forcing them to go into a shell thereafter.
She was then trusted to bowl the final over when Pakistan needed 10 with two wickets in hand. She killed all hopes of a win with the wicket of Diana Baig off the second ball as Pakistan eventually folded for 217, six runs short of the target.