South Africa win double-header, in final with Pakistan

South Africa’s Lizelle Lee (right) plays a cut during their Qatar International Women’s Twenty20 Championship match against Ireland at West End Park yesterday. PICTURE: Jayan Orma

By Sports Reporter/Doha

South African women warmed up for tomorrow’s final in style by winning both their league matches yesterday in the Twenty20 tri-series of the Qatar International Women’s Cricket Championship.

It was South Africa’s turn to play the double header at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium here, and they showed little fatigue, by comprehensively winning against Ireland and Pakistan. They will face Pakistan in the title clash tomorrow, in what is a repeat of the 50-over final, which South African won last Friday.

Yesterday, it was South African opener Lizelle Lee who dazzled by playing a pivotal role in her team’s victories. She scored a quick-fire 53 runs off 52 balls against Ireland as South Africa won by nine wickets. In the night clash, Lee came back and made a patient 60-ball 30 to lead Proteas to a seven-wicket win over Pakistan.

In the first match, Ireland, were put into bat in what was a must-win game for them. But a combined bowling performance kept Ireland to a below-par score as they were restricted to 101 for 7 in allotted 20 overs.

They were in for a much bigger total when Clare Shillington and Isobel Joyce added 53 for the second wicket at more than seven-an-over. However, once Shillington was run out for 25, the complexion of the innings changed quickly as Ireland lost three quick wickets for nine runs. Joyce kept running out of partners before she fell in the 19th over for 47. Joyce and Shillington were the only two batsmen to pass double figures.

For South Africa, it was a combined performance from their bowlers with Moseline Daniels, Marcia Letsoalo, Marizanne Kapp, Shabnim Ismail and Sunette Loubser all taking a wicket each.

South Africa made a swift reply. Lee and her opening partner, Trisha Chetty (27 not out), once again laid the foundation for a strong chase with their 83-run opening stand. Lee was dismissed by Amy Keanley at the end of the 12th over after scoring her second consecutive fifty. However, Chetty and skipper Mignon du Preez (8 not out), kept their composure, adding 19 runs to see their side to victory with more than five overs to spare. The Irish bowlers struggled with their lines, conceding 14 runs through extras, which cost them a place in the final.

“It was a great game played by the team,” skipper Du Preez said. “Today we executed our game plans well and, even when things went slightly off course, we were able to bring it back really well.”

In the second match, which was an inconsequential tie, with Pakistan going through after Ireland lost, South Africans reiterated their dominance.

In what was a dress-rehearsal for the final, South Africans called the shots and won with ease. Preez won the toss for the second time in a row and she put the opposition in again.

And her bowlers responded, making early inroads into the Pakistan batting line-up. Moseline Daniels struck in the first over to remove opener Marina Iqbal and it became six for 2 when Pakistan lost their Nain Abidi, who was adjudged Player of the Match in their previous outing, in the second over.

All-rounder Nida Dar and Nahida Khan steadied with a third-wicket stand of 25. In fact, Dar hit the only six of the match, but she could only make 17.

Sune Luus, the legbreak bowler, then tightened South Africa’s grip with a couple of strikes in a four-over spell, where she conceded just 10 runs. Khan was the only one to offer strong resistance, which ensured Pakistan finished with a moderate score of 96.

However, the target wasn’t sufficient to bother Proteas. Despite losing Chetty early, South Africa were in control thanks to a 60-run partnership for the second wicket between Lee and Preez.

While Lee played the ball on merit, du Preez scored at a brisk pace, scoring 38 in 34 balls, which included four boundaries. While both failed to see the team home, they had done enough for South Africa to achieve the win in the first ball of the last over.

Brief scores

Ireland 101 for 7 in 20 overs (Joyce 47, Shillington 25) lost to South Africa 102 for 1 in 14.2 overs (Lee 53) by nine wickets;

Pakistan 96 (Nahida 33, Daniels 3-17) lost to South Africa 97 for 3 in 19.1 overs (Du Preez 38) by seven wickets