LEICESTER: Pakistan began their campaign in the ICC Women’s World Cup on a heartbreaking note on Sunday when South Africa sealed a thrilling three-wicket victory here at the County Ground.

Chasing 207, South Africa launched their innings superbly as Laura Wolvaardt (52 off 87 balls, five boundaries) and Lizelle Lee (60 off 79, eight fours and three sixes) put on 113 for the first wicket.

But Pakistan pulled back by taking seven wickets in the space of 64 runs to leave South Africa struggling at 177-7. However, Sune Luus (15) and Shabnim Ismail (22) saw their side over the line in an unbroken stand of 30.

Earlier, Nahida Khan ensured Pakistan reach a competitive total after South Africa opted to field first. The opener scored 79 from 101 balls with the aid of nine fours and one six.

Meanwhile, India beat hosts England by 35 runs at Derby on the opening day of the tournament on Saturday.

India piled up an imposing 281 for three in their 50 overs thanks to fifties from Smriti Mandhana (90) and Punam Raut (86), who put on 144 for the first wicket, as well as 71 from skipper Mithali Raj.

Saturday’s other match saw 2000 champions New Zealand hammer Sri Lanka by nine wickets at Bristol.

Scoreboard

PAKISTAN:

Ayesha Zafar b Kapp 9Nahida Khan run out 79Javeria Khan b Daniels 17Bismah Maroof st Chetty b van Niekerk 10Nain Abidi st Chetty b Luus 22Kainat Imtiaz c Kapp b Daniels 13Asmavia Iqbal c Daniels b Ismail 27Sana Mir c Chetty b Ismail 15Sidra Nawaz not out 1

EXTRAS (B-2, LB-3, W-7, NB-1) 13

TOTAL (for eight wkts, 50 overs) 206

FALL OF WKTS: 1-10, 2-43, 3-61, 4-124, 5-157, 6-158, 7-201, 8-206.

DID NOT BAT: Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Yousuf.

BOWLING: Ismail 9-0-52-2 (1nb, 1w); Kapp 10-1-48-1 (2w); Khaka 10-1-33-0 (1w); Daniels 10-4-21-2 (1w); van Niekerk 5-0-14-1; Tryon 2-0-15-0 (1w); Luus 4-0-18-1.

SOUTH AFRICA:

L. Wolvaardt run out 52L. Lee lbw b Sana 60T. Chetty c Javeria b Bismah 11M. du Preez c Asmavia b Sadia 30M. Kapp run out 1C.L. Tryon b Sadia 3D. van Niekerk run out 5S. Luus not out 15 S. Ismail not out 22

EXTRAS (W-8) 8

TOTAL (for seven wkts, 49 overs) 207

FALL OF WKTS: 1-113, 2-124, 143, 146, 5-155, 6-152, 7-177.

DID NOT BAT: M. Daniels, A. Khaka.

BOWLING: Asmavia Iqbal 10-0-55-0 (1w); Sadia Yousuf 10-0-30-2 (1w); Sana Mir 9-1-27-1 (1w); Nashra Sandhu 10-2-32-0 (1w); Kainat Imtiaz 8-0-56-0 (3w); Bismah Maroof 2-0-7-1.

RESULT: South Africa won by three wickets.

UMPIRES: L. Rusere (Zimbabwe) and Sharfuddoula (Bangladesh).

MATCH REFEREE: S.R. Bernard (Australia).

PLAYER-OF-THE-MATCH: Shabnim Iqbal.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2017