Pakistan opener Sadaf Shamas scored an excellent 97 from just 82 balls to lead her side to a formidable total of 306-8 and a comprehensive, consolation victory by 119-runs in the third and final ICC Championship one-day international against South Africa at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead in Durban on Sunday.
Captain Fatima Sana belted a glorious 60 from just 41 balls in the closing overs with three fours and five sixes to push the total beyond 300 as she perfected the straight drive and slog-sweep to leave the Protea Women requiring a record chase at the venue.
South Africa’s run-chase collapsed to a miserably 7-3 after just two overs but Faye Tunnicliffe (47 from 51 balls) and Annerie Derckson (54 from 67) kept their cool to put the innings back on an even keel with a stand of 85 before the home side were dismissed for 187 in 36.2 overs.
Pakistan thump South Africa to deny them an ODI clean sweep 🇵🇰🏏#SAvPAK | #SSCricket | #HereForHer pic.twitter.com/vw1CRikYOW
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) March 1, 2026
South Africa completed a 2-1 series victory after victories by 37-runs and 16-runs in Bloemfontein and Centurion respectively. South Africa also won the preceding T20 International series by the same scoreline.
A thunderous square-cut from Tasmin Brits (4) was brilliantly caught at cover, Laura Wolvaardt (1) edged a drive to slip against opposite number Sana and Sune Luus (0) was trapped lbw two balls later leaving a mountain to climb.
Sinalo Jafta swatted 33 from 34 balls but Pakistan’s spinners had too much nous in helpful conditions with left-armer Sadia Iqbal claiming 3-41 in her 10 overs with left-armer Nashra Sandhu (2-25) and offspinner Umm-e-Hani (2-35) completing a haul of seven for the slow bowlers.
PROACTIVE SHAMAS
Twenty-seven-year-old right-hander Shamas was proactive from the start as she put the Proteas attack under pressure during the Power Play and collected 16 boundaries and a pulled six on a slow pitch which did little to encourage strokeplay.
Fellow opener Gull Feroza was bowled off a no-ball from Ayanda Hlubi before mistiming a drive to Nadine de Klerk at mid off against Derckson (6-0-40-1) but Sidra Amin (41 from 64 balls) added 103 for the second wicket with Shamas before Sune Luus clipped her off-stump.
Shamas thoroughly deserved a maiden century but Luus (9-0-42-3) struck again with a flighted delivery which coerced the batter to play too early and offer a straightforward return catch.
Captain Fatima Sani drove Luus for a glorious straight six to kickstart her innings and played with a power which belied her physical stature to give her team a golden chance of an upset victory while the bowlers were clinical in making it count.
But it was another below-par performance from South Africa in the field with 10 wides and five no-balls continuing to taint their results against the tourists with another six catches being dropped in the field.
The fixture represents the sixth ‘Black Day’ to raise and awareness and funds in the fight battle against the scourge of Gender Based Violence in South Africa.
A powerful silence. A united stand. 🖤
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) March 1, 2026
Today at Change of Innings, we marched in silence but our message was loud and clear.
Together, we stand #BraveInBlack to raise awareness, to honour survivors, and to demand change in the fight to #EndGBV.#ProteasBlackDay #EndGBV… pic.twitter.com/n7OkVledsf
SOUTH AFRICA: Laura Wolvaardt (captain), Tazmin Brits, Faye Tunnicliffe, Sune Luus, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta (wkt), Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Tumi Sekhukhune, Ayanda Hlubi, Nonkululeko Mlaba
PAKISTAN: Gull Feroza, Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Amin, Ayesha Zafar, Najiha Alvi (wkt), Fatima Sana (captain), Syeda Aroob Shah, Umm-e-Hani, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal, Tasmia Rubab.