Captain Fatima Sana's heroic all-round performance, scoring an unbeaten 55 and taking 3-16, went in vain as South Africa edged past Pakistan by a mere two wickets while chasing a 127-run target in Match 11 of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham on Wednesday evening.
Match Summary
South Africa reached the target with 19 balls to spare. Pakistan will now face Bangladesh at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton on Saturday, 20 June, in a day game starting at 2:30 PM local time (6:30 PM Pakistan time).
Fatima Sana's All-Round Brilliance
Skipper Fatima kept South Africa under pressure in both innings. She first partnered with Tuba Hassan for a record ninth-wicket stand of 71 runs to help Pakistan reach a competitive total. Later, she dismissed Sune Luus, Nadine de Klerk, and Sinalo Jafta, becoming the first captain to score a fifty and take three wickets in the same match across all 10 ICC Women's T20 World Cups.
South Africa's Chase
Chasing 127, South Africa progressed to 76 for two, thanks to Annerie Dercksen's 52 off 35 balls, which included seven fours and two sixes. Fatima drew first blood in the second over, while Tuba removed Laura Wolvaardt in the seventh over. Marizanne Kapp (10) and Dercksen added 23 runs, but Nashra had Kapp stumped, and Tuba bowled Dercksen through her legs. Sadia Iqbal struck twice in the middle overs, dismissing Chloe Tryon caught behind in the 13th over and Kayla Reyneke caught by Fatima in the 15th over, reducing South Africa to 107 for six.
With South Africa needing two runs to win, Fatima bowled Jafta with the total at 125 for seven, then had Nadine de Klerk (37 off 28 balls, six fours) caught behind.
Pakistan's Innings
Earlier, Pakistan were reduced to 14 for four inside the fourth over after Marizanne Kapp removed both openers in the first over and struck thrice in the powerplay. Three run-outs compounded the damage as Pakistan slipped to 50 for eight inside 11 overs. From there, Fatima and Tuba (23 off 27 balls, two fours) added 71 for the ninth wicket—the highest ninth-wicket partnership in ICC Women's T20 World Cup history and the second highest in Women's T20Is. Fatima's 55 not out off 38 balls included six fours and two sixes, which she hit on consecutive balls in the last over off de Klerk to bring up her third WT20I fifty off 35 balls. She also registered the highest score by a player batting at number eight or lower in ICC Women's T20 World Cups.
