South Africa survived a late success from Pakistan to continue for the biggest wins in the first round of their three-game ODI in Durban.
A ninth wicket partnership from Nida Dar and Diana Baig of 60 they dragged Pakistan to the brink of unprecedented victory, but fell short of the total 200 set by Momentum Proteas, finishing their 50 overs at 197/8.
Starting with the ball for South Africa, Shabnim Ismail’s 4/42 bowler took 3/42 and enjoyed a cameo with the bat to help record 200/9 for Pakistan to be running, with the visitors selecting a bowl first.
Baig took the early wickets of Lizelle Lee and stand-in captain Sune Luus leaving South Africa at 24/2 within five innings, before Laura Woolvaardt and Lara Goodall set the ship afloat, coming together for a 60-run partnership.
After breaking the pair, leaving South Africa at 88/4, an economic bowling spell with Sadia Iqbal and Nashra Sandhu blocked world no.3 all-rounds by Marizanne Kapp and Mignon du Preez to just 13 runs in seven petals, leaving the couple at 101/4 after 31.
The two South African midfielders started to rise the run level, beating Fatima Sana for 14, including three fours, in the 36th over and building a partnership of 64 runs.
Kapp was denied half a century, falling three short runs when she suffered a stump off Nida Dar’s bowling in the 44th.th over, following Du Preez back to the catch room that had gone the same way from Sandhu for 29, four previous goals.
Nadine de Klerk followed, caught and bowled by Baig for a duck to leave the score at 172/7.
Trisha Chetty fell for just seven before Ismail’s 20-year stint helped bring the Proteas to the final 200/9.
Muneeba Ali was the first to fall for Pakistan, trapped behind the bowling of Ismail for just one run. The South African archer was present to sack opening partner Ali Nahida Khan, running him out of eighth place for 14.
Skipper Javeria Khan was sacked by Nonkululeko Mlaba for just five runs, but with Omaima Sohail and Dar settling at the relegation zone, Pakistan began digging in.
After Sohail sacked for 37 and Sidra Nawaz for just one, a strong partnership of 51 was built with Dar and Aliya Riaz to pull Pakistan into the required run inside. But their hopes were dashed by an impressive bowling frenzy with Ismail, which led Riaz and Sana in consecutive deliveries to leave them at 129/7.
Dar and Baig went on to finish for Pakistan, scoring four goals to go with 46 runs still missing. The pair started knocking out, taking Tumi Sekhukhune and Ismail for 10 each in the 48th and 49th over.
Impressively finally Baig hit four out of the last delivery from de Klerk and needed one more finish to take the level of the scores. But de Klerk kept his zero and fired the ball quickly and completely to defuse Baig, who finished with a score of 35 not out to add to 59 Dar not out .
The two sides will face each other again at Kingsmead on Saturday 23 January.