CAPE TOWN – Tazmin Brits and Shabnim Ismail were once the again the heroes for the Proteas Women's team in the second T20I against Pakistan at Kingsmead on Sunday.
In an almost carbon-copy of the first match a couple of days ago, the pair yet again delivered match-winning performances.
Brits followed up her half-century with another 66 off just 58 balls (8x4, 1x6) to propel South Africa to 133/5 off their allotted 20 overs before Ismail ran through the Pakistani top order with career-best figures of 5/12.
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"When I walk on the pitch I just become a beast, so really thankful for the Man of the Match award and hopefully there will still be plenty more ahead in my career," Ismail said.
South Africa have certainly though also found a potential superstar in Brits. Although she profited from an early dropped chance, Brits showed she could recover from a slow start before unleashing a devastating power game.
The tall right-hander was meandering along at 19 off 29 balls at a strike-rate of 65 at one stage, but once Britz found the pace of the pitch to her liking, the Pakistani bowlers came under fire.
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She was particularly good at using the depth of the crease, and showed that she could also mix innovation with power as the reverse-sweep and lofted straight drive were both used with good effect.
Ismail, meanwhile, is a world class act and continues to be Pakistan's nemesis. After Marizanne Kapp rattled Omaima Sohail's stumps, Ismail had Muneeba Ali caught behind by Sinalo Jafta before clean bowling Nida Dar with successive deliveries.
Although she was denied the hat trick, Ismail came back the next over to also clean bowl Ayesha Zafar to leave Pakistan reeling at 20/4.
🏏 RESULT | SOUTH AFRICA WIN BY 18 RUNS
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 31, 2021
🇵🇰 Pakistan end on 115/7 after 20 overs.
📺 Watch the match on SuperSport 212
📝 Ball by Ball: https://t.co/AYinZNOw75#SAvPAK #AlwaysRising@Momentum_za pic.twitter.com/EFZsJhHeMW
The tourists have endured poor starts in both the ODI and T20 series, which has placed undue pressure on their explosive middle-order.
And again they found willing participants in Kainat Imtiaz (26 off 31 balls) before stand-in captain Aliya Riaz and 16-year-old Ayesha Naseem (33 off 22 balls) gave Pakistan a real chance with an explosive partnership of 65 runs for the sixth wicket.
Unfortunately it was a little too late as Ismail closed out the game with two wickets in the final over.
SCORECARD
South Africa: 133/5 (Brits 66, Amin 2/21)
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