Reyneke steals the show as Proteas Women beat Pakistan

Kayla Reyneke enjoyed a dream debut with bat and ball as the Proteas Women secured a five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first T20 International (T20I) in Potchefstroom on Tuesday. The win handed the hosts a 1-0 series lead with two matches remaining.

Reyneke produced the best bowling figures by a Proteas Women debutant, returning 2/13 in her four overs to help restrict Pakistan to 180/9, despite a career-best knock of 90 off 41 balls from Fatima Sana.

The 20-year-old then capped off a memorable debut by striking three sixes in a match-winning unbeaten 29 off 16 deliveries, as the Proteas completed a tense, high-scoring chase off the final ball of the match. Captain Laura Wolvaardt played a crucial anchoring role, top-scoring with a 38-ball 61, which included eight fours and one six.

After losing the toss and being asked to bowl first, the Proteas Women made early inroads into the Pakistan top order. Reyneke claimed her maiden international wicket when she bowled Gull Feroza (13), before Ayanda Hlubi (3/41) struck twice in two balls to leave the visitors 46/3 inside the PowerPlay.

With Natalia Pervaiz (20) and Muneeba Ali (16) looking to rebuild, Reyneke struck again to remove Pervaiz, before Nonkululeko Mlaba (2/40) joined the wicket-taking party by dismissing Ali and Aliya Riaz (0), reducing Pakistan to 64/6 after 10 overs.

A crucial half-century stand between Umm-e-Hani and Sana helped Pakistan recover, bringing up the three-figure mark as they reached 103/6 at the end of the 15th over. Sana then launched an onslaught to bring up her fifty, taking her side to 143/7 after 17 overs following the dismissal of Umm-e-Hani off Hlubi’s bowling.

Despite losing her partner, Sana continued to take the game to the Proteas, finding the boundary regularly before falling off the final ball of the innings as Pakistan posted a competitive 180/9 from their 20 overs.

In reply, the Proteas Women made a steady start through Tazmin Brits (16) and Suné Luus (32), who added 25 runs for the first wicket before Brits was dismissed off the bowling of Humna Bilal.

Luus then found a more than capable partner in skipper Wolvaardt, with the pair guiding the hosts to 54/1 after six overs and racing to a 50-run stand for the second wicket. Despite Luus falling to Nashra Sandhu (2/27), the Proteas maintained the momentum, moving to 102/2 after 10 overs with Wolvaardt and Dané van Niekerk (16) at the crease.

Still requiring 79 runs from 60 balls, Wolvaardt went on to register her 12th career half-century, sharing a 46-run partnership with Van Niekerk, before the captain departed with the score on 133/3 in the 15th over. That breakthrough sparked a brief collapse as Ayesha Zafar (1/24) and run-outs accounted for Van Niekerk and Lara Goodall (11), leaving the hosts on 147/5 at the end of the 16th over.

With the match heading towards a tense finish, Reyneke once again rose to the occasion, smashing the winning runs off the final ball. She combined with Annette Dercksen (9*) in an unbroken 38-run partnership to steer the Proteas Women over the line.

The second T20I will take place on Friday at Willowmoore Park in Benoni.

Proteas Women’s T20I Squad

Laura Wolvaardt (Fidelity Titans) (Captain), Tazmin Brits (DP World Lions), Nadine de Klerk (World Sports Betting Western Province), Annerie Dercksen (Garden Route Badgers), Lara Goodall (World Sports Betting Western Province), Ayanda Hlubi (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions), Marizanne Kapp (World Sports Betting Western Province), Ayabonga Khaka (DP World Lions), Masabata Klaas (Fidelity Titans), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), Karabo Meso (DP World Lions), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Kayla Reyneke (World Sports Betting Western Province) and Dané van Niekerk (World Sports Betting Western Province).

Fixtures

Tuesday, 10 February at 6pm @ JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom - SA won by five wickets

Friday, 13 February at 6pm @ Willowmoore Park, Benoni

Monday, 16 February at 6pm @ Willowmoore Park, Benoni