February 25, 2008	Monday	Safar 17, 1429

STELLENBOSCH (South Africa), Feb 24: Opening bowler Alicia Smith took five wickets for seven runs as South Africa crushed Pakistan by eight wickets in the final of the Women’s World Cup Qualifier tournament at the Stellenbosch University ground on Sunday.

Pakistan were bowled out for 61 after winning the toss and batting in sunny weather. South Africa needed only 13.4 overs to secure victory.

Consolation for Pakistan was that they qualified for the Women’s World Cup in Australia in March 2009 because the top two teams from the tournament went through.

Smith struck with her first delivery when she trapped Bismah Maroof LBW and she conceded only two runs off the bat in eight overs. She bowled five wides.

Extras were the highest contributor to the total with 26, including 15 wides.

Only opener Taskeen Qadeer, with 12, reached double figures for Pakistan – and she was dropped at second slip off Dinesha Devnarain off the third ball of the match before she had scored.

Pakistan’s strength during the tournament was their bowling and Asmavia Iqbal struck twice with the new ball to reduce South Africa to 13 for two. But Claire Terblanche and Susanna Benade put on an unbeaten 48 for the third wicket.

Pakistan captain Urooj Mumtaz said she was disappointed with her team’s batting but proud that they had qualified for the World Cup.

“We don’t play that many international games but we know that we will be facing some good teams at the World Cup so we will have to step up as far as our batting is concerned,” said Urooj.

Scoreboard

PAKISTAN:

Taskeen Qadeer c Chetty b Smith 12

Bismah Maroof lbw b Smith 0

Sajjida Shah lbw b Smith 0

Sana Javed c Chetty b Benade 9

Nain Abidi b Smith 3

Sana Mir b Smith 0

Urooj Mumtaz lbw b Loubser 0

Batool Fatima not out 6

Asmavia Iqbal st Chetty b Loubser 4

Qanita Jalil c Chetty b Benade 1

Sadia Yousuf run out 0

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-6, W-15, NB-1) 26

TOTAL (all out, 24.3 overs) 61

FALL OF WKTS: 1-3, 2-9, 3-28, 4-35, 5-35, 6-41, 7-48, 8-54, 9-57.

BOWLING: Devnarain 4-0-19-0 (1nb, 7w); Smith 8-3-7-5 (5w); Benade 5-2-11-2 (1w); Loubser 7.3-2-14-2.

SOUTH AFRICA:

O.V. Anderson b Asmavia 3

C.S. Terblanche not out 22

C. Brits c Urooj b Asmavia 0

S.M. Benade not out 26

EXTRAS (LB-1, W-8, NB-2) 11

TOTAL (for two wkts, 13.4 overs) 62

FALL OF WKTS: 1-6, 2-13.

DID NOT BAT: A. Minnie, A.E. Smith, S.A. Fritz, T. Chetty, S. Loubser, C. van der Westhuizen, D. Devnarain.

BOWLING: Asmavia Iqbal 4-0-20-2 (6w); Qanita Jalil 5-0-11-0; Sajjida Shah 2.4-0-22-0 (2nb); Sadia Yousuf 2-0-8-0.

RESULT: South Africa won by eight wickets.—AFP