KARACHI: Pakistan will look to rise higher in the ICC Women’s Championship table when they take on South Africa in the first fixture of the three-match One-day International series against South Africa here at the National Bank Stadium on Friday.

The national side is currently placed fourth in the 2022-25 cycle of the Championship with 10 points from nine matches.

With the momentum that they are carrying from a 3-0 T20 series sweep against the visiting South Africans last week, the Nida Dar-led team has a chance to be in the top three of the standings.

The first ODI will be Nida’s 100th appearance in the format and she will be up against one of her favourite oppositions. The veteran has an impressive record of scoring 246 runs — including three half-centuries — against South Africa. She also has 18 Proteas wickets to her name so far.

Pakistan will take confidence from their dominance in Championship matches at home, where they beat Sri Lanka 2-1 and Ireland 3-0 over the past one year. Their last outing, however, was a 3-0 loss against Australia on the latter’s territory.

“Our recent 3-0 victory in the T20I series against South Africa was a fantastic confidence booster for the team,” Pakistan spinner Nashra Sandhu said. “We have been working tirelessly on our skills, and it’s clear that our hard work is paying off.

“We are well aware that South Africa is a formidable opponent in the ODI format, and we are ready to face the challenge.

“Our goal is to put up strong performances and secure maximum points to solidify our position in the ICC Women’s Championship standings,” added Sandhu, who took four wickets in the T20 series.

The hosts will rely on opener Sidra Amin, all-rounder Fatima Sana and spinner Ghulam Fatima — all having a great record in the Champion­ship’s current cycle.

While Sidra, who showed superb form in the T20 series, has accumulated 535 runs in nine matches of the cycle, Fatima is leading the Championships bowling charts with 16 victims. Ghulam Fatima is also among the wicket with 12 scalps.

The series against Pakistan will be South Africa’s second of the Championship. They won their previous series against Ireland 3-0.

Led by Laura Wolvaardt, the visitors are currently third in the ODI rankings, seven places above Pakistan.

Wolvaardt, who was named player of the T20 series, will be looking to continue her rich vein of form in the ODIs.

We have seen in the T20I series that Pakistan looks like an all-new outfit they are playing, and it’s really good for women’s cricket.

“In all three T20I games, we weren’t able to finish games resulting in three close losses,” said South African all-rounder Marizanne Kapp. “We are a relatively younger side compared to what we had in the past, and I think in conditions like this, one needs a bit of experience to pull through.”

In head-to-head encounters, Pakistan and South Africa have faced each other in 25 matches to date. South Africa have won 19 matches, while Pakistan have won in four outings. One match was tied, while one ended in a no-result.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2023