Proteas captain Suné Luus was happy that her side managed to come through a tense Women’s World Cup encounter against Pakistan on Friday.
Luus said the match in Mount Maunganui, which South Africa won by six runs, was nerve-shredding for her team.
“You’ve got to love a World Cup game, no game’s easy,” she said. “I’m just happy with the team’s performance, even though we’re not playing our best cricket yet.”
REPORT: Ismail stars with the ball as Proteas Women clinch thriller
Luus said before the match she wanted her batters to show more intensity than they displayed in their opening victory over Bangladesh, when they were restricted to 207 runs.
Opener Laura Wolvaardt stuck to the script, hitting an aggressive 75, but the rest of the top order struggled against Pakistan’s spinners.
The middle order offered more resistance, with Luus contributing 62 and Chloe Tryon and Trisha Chetty adding 31 apiece.
Spinner Ghulam Fatima and all-rounder Fatima Sana were Pakistan’s most effective bowlers, each taking three wickets.
The pressure exerted by the bowling attack was undermined by four dropped catches, but South Africa’s total of 223-9 looked far from imposing.
Pakistan made a sluggish start to the run chase after Shabnim Ismail took two wickets in successive balls, but Nahida Khan and Omaima Sohail came together for a crucial 69-run partnership.
Khan departed for 40 and Sohail held on for 65 but neither could bat through to the end.
With Pakistan needing just over a run per ball from the final 10 overs, it fell to Nida Dar to try to guide the tailenders to victory.
She made a fine effort, making 55 before being run out with Pakistan needing 11 runs from seven balls.
Her team fell just short of the target as Ismail (3-41) conceded just four runs in the final over.
“Shabnim was incredible in that last over,” said Wolvaardt. “It’s typical of her. She is such a big match player, so I’m not surprised that she handled the pressure the way that she did.”
With the second ball of that over, Ismail took a superb diving catch to dismiss the dangerous Diana Baig.
“That catch was incredible,” said Wolvaardt. “To go from a full run-up, to bowl that ball and then turn around and take an overhead catch was amazing. Overhead catches are difficult enough as it is, so it was really good from her.”
HIGHLIGHTS: Proteas vs Pakistan (Women’s World Cup)
Wolvaardt said there’s still plenty of room for improvement despite the Proteas having won their first two games.
“Knowing that we’re not playing our best cricket and still winning tight games is a good thing.
“If we were playing our best cricket and it was still this tight, then that would be worse. It’s a big morale booster, and hopefully, we can make it less tight next time.”
© Agence France-Presse
