Cape The town – A blistering innings of 60 off simply 31 balls through Lizelle Lee cleared the path for the Proteas Ladies to attract stage at 2-2 with Pakistan of their five-match T20 Sequence after profitable the newest conflict through 4 wickets at Willowmoore Park in Benoni on Wednesday.
The proper-hander plundered 11 fours in her innings because the hosts recorded their 2d very best T20 global ranking to chase down a troublesome 173 goal and win with 5 deliveries to spare.
It was once a gorgeous effort through Lee, her 9th profession half-century within the layout, and one who allowed the South Africans to arrange a decider on the similar venue the next day to come.
Wanting to win the event to stick alive within the contest, the house aspect opted to bowl first after profitable the toss, a call that to begin with appeared the improper one because the Pakistanis posted the very best ranking out of the 4 video games to this point.
Nida Dar did the majority of the scoring for her aspect with a career-best 75 that got here at a fair faster fee than Lee – her blitz fed on simply 37 deliveries and incorporated 8 fours and 3 sixes.
The Asian aspect had fallen into early hassle earlier than that when Shabnim Ismail (2/20) and Nadine de Klerk (1/40) landed two early blows to go away them on 10/2.
However captain Bismah Maroof (37) as soon as once more got here to her workforce’s rescue through sharing a 106-run third-wicket stand with Dar, earlier than Aliya Riaz clubbed 35 off 17 balls to offer additional impetus on the loss of life.
That lifted Pakistan to 172/5, a reputedly tall order for the native women.
Lee, although, had different concepts and presented her aspect a rollicking get started along Tazmin Brits (18) with the pair hanging on 74 in 7.Five overs.
A snappy double from the visiting assault pegged South Africa again to 89 for 2, earlier than precious 20s through De Klerk (22) and Chloe Tryon (21) in addition to 17 off nine through captain Sune Luus carried the chase ahead.
It was once then left to Sinalo Jafta (14 no longer out) and Ismail (10 no longer out) to hold SA over the road.