BENONI: Nida Dar struck the fastest half-century by a Pakistani woman but it wasn’t enough to prevent her side from losing the fourth Twenty20 International to South Africa at Willowmoore Park on Wednesday.

Nida scored 75, completing her fifty in 20 balls — the second-fastest in women’s international cricket, as Pakistan set South Africa a target of 173, which they reached in the last over with four wickets remaining to level the five-game series at 2-2. The deciding fixture will be played on Thursday.

Lizelle Lee starred with the bat for the hosts, scoring a 31-ball 60 featuring 11 boundaries, adding 74 runs for the first wicket with Tazmin Brits (18). Nadine de Klerk was the other notable run-scorer with 22.

Earlier, Nida jot eight fours and three sixes in her 37-ball knock, missing out on the record for the fastest fifty by just two balls. New Zealand’s Sophie Devine holds that record, scoring a half-century off just 18 balls against India in 2005 in Bangalore.

Nida added 106 runs for the third wicket with Bismah Maroof, who scored run-a-ball 37 with six fours. Aliya Riaz contributed with a quick-fire 35 not out off 17 balls with four fours and a six.

Scores in brief:

PAKISTAN 172-5 in 20 overs (Nida Dar 75, Bismah Maroof 37; Shabnim Ismail 2-22); SOUTH AFRICA 174-6 in 19.1 overs (Lizelle Lee 60, Nadine de Klerk 22; Fatima Sana 3-27).

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2019