The South Africa Under-19 Women claimed a four-wicket victory in their opening Youth T20 International (T20I) against hosts Pakistan Under-19 in Karachi on Tuesday, with Ashleigh van Wyk and Chanel Venter delivering outstanding performances with the ball and the bat, respectively.
Van Wyk led the way with the ball in the first innings for the first-time visitors, claiming impressive figures of 3/15 with her leg-spin as Pakistan were restricted to 103/6 in their 20 overs.
South Africa successfully chased down the target with four overs to spare, largely thanks to Venter’s assertive knock at the top of the order, scoring 41 off 32 balls, including three fours and two sixes.
After losing the toss and being sent in to field, the SA Under-19 Women made an outstanding start as the opening bowling pair of Miya Lalor (2/21) and Van Wyk claimed three wickets without conceding a run to rock the hosts.
Pakistan recovered well from 0/3 through a 61-run partnership between Zoofishan Ayyaz (30) and top-scorer Aqsa Habib (38), before late contributions from skipper Fizza Fiaz (14) and Shahar Bano (18) helped the home side post 103/6.
The SA Under-19 Women’s chase began brightly as openers Venter and Chris-Mari Bezuidenhout (22) raced to a 47-run opening stand during the powerplay. However, the run-out of Bezuidenhout, followed by the dismissal of Mankwana Moriri (1) in the seventh over, reduced the tourists to 50/2.
Despite another setback, this time captain Mieke van Voorst (0) being run out, Venter continued to lead the charge, helping South Africa reach 78/3 at the halfway mark before eventually falling in the 11th over.
The SA Under-19 Women wrapped up the chase soon after, with Jae-Leigh Filander (9*), Lalor (14) and Daneli Boshoff (6*) guiding the visitors to victory at the end of the 16th over and a 1-0 lead in the five-match Youth T20I series.
The second match will take place on 17 July, at the National Stadium in Karachi.
SA Under-19 Women’s Squad
Mieke van Voorst (captain, Easterns), Chris-Mari Bezuidenhout (Mpumalanga), Daneli Boshoff (Boland), Jezé Campher (Garden Route Badgers), Jae-Leigh Filander (Western Province), Reabetswe Dithupe (North West), Miya Lalor (Western Province), Respect Mabasa (Limpopo), Makwana Moriri (Central Gauteng Lions), Rethabile Nthoba (Free State), Shreeya Subbiah (KZN Coastal), Melissa van der Merwe (Boland), Diedre van Rensburg (North West), Ashleigh Van Wyk (Easterns) and Chanel Venter (Titans).
Fixtures - Youth T20I Series
1st YT20I - SA U19 Women won by 4 wickets
PAK U19: 103/6 after 20 overs; A. Habib 38 (50), Z. Ayyaz 30 (40); A. van Wyk 3/15, M. Lalor 2/21
SA U19: 104/6 after 16 overs; C. Venter 41 (32), C. Bezuidenhout 22 (20); S. Bano 2/16, M. Nazakat 2/17
Friday, 17 July at 5pm
2nd Youth T20I - Pakistan U19 v SA U19 Women (National Stadium, Karachi)
Sunday, 19 July at 5pm
3rd Youth T20I - Pakistan U19 v SA U19 Women (National Stadium, Karachi)
Wednesday, 22 July at 5pm
4th Youth T20I - Pakistan U19 v SA U19 Women (National Stadium, Karachi)
Friday, 24 July at 5pm
5th Youth T20I - Pakistan U19 v SA U19 Women (National Stadium, Karachi)