KARACHI: South Africa U-19 women in a clinical performance defeated their Pakistan counterparts by 52 runs in the third T20 to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series here at the National Bank Stadium on Sunday.

Skipper Mieke van Voorst played a momentum-boosting 57-run knock laced with nine fours when her team were 29-2 in 4.4 overs and also stitched a 76-run stand for the sixth wicket with Daneli Boshoff as South Africa plundered 78 runs off the last 44 balls.

Pakistan took out the South African opening duo of Chanel Venter – removed by Mahnoor Zeb in second over – and Shreeya Subbiah (13) – run out by Memoona Khalid – within the first five overs. In the next over, Diedre van Rensburg (13) also perished, becoming Maham Nazakat’s first of the two scalps with South Africa 33-3 in 5.3 overs.

At this juncture, van Voorst put on a 42-run partnership off 35 balls with Chris-Mari Bezuidenhout (23) to stabilize the innings. This stand was broken by off-spinner Memoona in 12th over, while left-arm pacer Mah Noor removed Jeze Campher in the 13th to leave South Africa 80-5 in 12.4 overs.

No.7 batter Daneli Boshoff provided van Voorst with the attacking hand as the duo went berserk in their game-changing stand. Boshoff struck three fours and as many sixes in her 39 not out off just 20 balls. Though Maham’s left-arm spin got rid of the South African skipper in the last over of innings but they had gone past the 150-run mark by then.

Maham finished with two for 29 taking her tally of wickets in the series to six for 54 across three games, while Mah Noor, Mahnoor Zeb and Memoona picked up one each.

In turn, Pakistan lost half their side for 28 runs as South Africa got off to the best possible start in defence of their total. Areesha Ansari (17) and Shahar Bano then fought back with a 24-ball 37-run stand but in vain as it was broken in the 12th over with 65 runs on the board.

Bano once again showcased her batting skills by striking two sixes and five fours in an exciting 39-run knock off 22 balls but was undone by a spectacular diving catch at long on by van Voorst. The last three wickets added 29 runs for Pakistan as they were dismissed for 106 in 18 overs.

For South Africa, off-spinner Respect Mabasa claimed two for nine in four overs including a maiden, while Miya Lalor and Melissa van der Merwe picked up two each. Boshoff, Subbiah and Reabetswe Dithipe dismissed one batter each.

The fourth T20 of the series will be played on Wednesday at the same venue.

Scores in brief:

SOUTH AFRICA U-19 WOMEN 158-6 in 20 overs (Mieke van Voorst 57, Daneli Boshoff 39 not out, Chris-Mari Bezuidenhout 23; Maham Nazakt 2-23); PAKISTAN U-19 WOMEN Pakistan 106 in 18 overs (Shahar Bano 39, Areesha Ansari 17; Respect Mabasa 2-9, Miya Lalor 2-14, Melissa van der Merwe 2-20).

Published in Dawn, July 20th, 2026