By Staff Reporter
LAHORE: Pakistan crashed out of the ICC Women’s World Cup on Tuesday after a crushing 150-run defeat to South Africa under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method in a rain-hit penultimate league match at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Fatima Sana’s side needed a victory to keep their semi-final hopes alive against the already-qualified Proteas, but relentless rains in Colombo, stop-start in manner, sealed their fate as South Africa posted 312-9 in 40 overs before Pakistan stumbled to 83-7 chasing a revised target.
“I think today is the day bowlers didn’t perform well. We have to accept it. They played very well, but we needed to be calmer in those situations. I think after the second over, and after the rain, it was a different situation because the conditions and the ball were wet,” skipper Sana said after the match.
The pacer added that the bowlers tried to find rhythm, but it was very difficult to bowl in those conditions. The first shower brought a two-hour delay and reduced the match to 40 overs per side. By the time Pakistan batted for a third time, their target was 234 in 20 overs under DLS. Pakistan were already struggling at 60-4 after 14 overs when rain interrupted again, and they eventually finished at 83-7.
Fatima’s side had won the toss and elected to field, but the heavens opened as soon as the match began, forcing the players to rush to the dugout. Moments before they took cover, the Pakistan skipper got an early breakthrough when she had dangerous opener Tazmin Brits nick an away swinger to Natalia Parvaiz at first slip for a duck. Once play resumed from 6-1 after two overs, South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt led from the front, scoring 90 and combining with Sune Luus for a 118-run second-wicket partnership. The Pakistan bowlers were taken to all parts as South Africa reached their highest-ever score in the World Cup, with the hundred coming up in just 14.2 overs.
After Wolvaardt and Luus departed for 90 and 61 respectively, Marizanne Kapp and the dangerous Nadine de Klerk stepped up to take the scoring rate even higher. De Klerk continued her fine hitting form in the World Cup, smashing 41 off just 16 deliveries laced with three sixes to take South Africa past the 300-run mark.
Pakistan’s reply meandered along aimlessly as the rains made the situation even more ignominious with each passing shower. Chasing a DLS-adjusted 302 at the start, opener Muneeba Ali fell early in the second over to a returning Ayabonga Khaka . Omaima Sohail was next to follow, lbw to Marizanne Kapp in a similar manner to her previous outing. Kapp also got the scalps of veteran batters Sidra Amin and Aliya Riaz to end with figures of 3-20. The wickets continued to tumble as the Green Shirts stumbled to 60-4 after 14 overs before rain interrupted play again. Wicket-keeper Sidra Nawaz showed some resistance, ending 22 not out as Pakistan continued to lose wickets from the other end in a familiar fashion.
Rains in Colombo had seen Pakistan’s last two matches end in washouts against England and New Zealand respectively, costing the team a chance to pick up more points in their last-four push. The washed-out New Zealand fixture on Saturday saw South Africa become the second team to qualify for the semi-finals. Tuesday’s victory saw the Proteas go top of the table. The Green Shirts will now face co-hosts Sri Lanka in their final group encounter on Saturday in a dead rubber.
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