Pakistan women's team beat South Africa women by five wickets after a thrilling last over in their first T20I encounter on Friday at the National Stadium, Karachi.
The nail-biting match was finished on the last ball by Aliya Riaz as she guided Pakistan women to their highest successful T20I chase.
Chasing the target of 151, the home side lost an early wicket of Shawaal Zulfiqar on the last ball of the third over.
The Green Shirts kept on losing wickets at intervals but they continued to play with positive intent and were far behind the required run rate.
Surprisingly, out of five wickets the winners lost, four of them were due to runouts.
Sidra Ameen, Bismah Maroof, skipper Nida Dar, and Muneeba Ali, all had to walk all the way back to the pavilion for the same reason, run out.
Maroof top-scored for the winning side by scoring 37 off 30, she was closely followed by Ameen who scored 33 runs on 31 balls.
Earlier in the first innings, South Africa's opening duo of Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits formed an 85-run partnership before the former was bowled by Pakistan's Nashra Sandhu.
Brits played an exceptional knock of 78 runs which included 10 boundaries and her display helped the team post 150/3 on the scoreboard.
For Pakistan, all of Fatima Sana, Sadia Iqbal, and Sandhu took one wicket each.
Pakistan women now lead the three T20I series 1-0.
Lineups
Pakistan women: Sidra Ameen, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Bismah Maroof, Nida Dar (c), Muneeba Ali (wk), Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Syeda Aroob Shah, Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal
South Africa women: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus, Anneke Bosch, Nadine de Klerk, Delmi Tucker, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba,
Schedule of remaining matches
3 Sep – Second T20I v South Africa
5 Sep – Third T20I v South Africa
8 Sep – First ODI v South Africa
11 Sep – Second ODI v South Africa
14 Sep – Third ODI v South Africa
