Century Blitz! Amin sets Proteas a fiery 256 target

An unbeaten century from the bat of Sidra Amin helped the Pakistan women to 255/4 in their 50 overs batting first, in the opening one-day International (ODI) against the Proteas women at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Tuesday afternoon.

Having won the toss and chosen to bat, the hosts were powered by Amin, 121no off 150 balls (12x4) and opener Muneeba Ali, 76 off 94 balls (11x4), with their 147-run second wicket partnership producing the lion’s share of runs.

They will however feel they finished a few runs short, as with wickets in hand they were unable to maximise in the final overs, after some solid death bowling from the Proteas restricted them in the end.

The Proteas enjoyed a strong start to the match, thanks to Ayabonga Khaka striking in the second over, having opener Shawaal Zulfiqar caught behind by keeper Sinalo Jafta for a third ball duck, with the score 3/1.

But that brought Amin to the crease and along with Ali they set about their big partnership to put their side into a strong position, although they started cautiously, reaching 39/1 after 10 overs.

They eventually started to pick up the rate, crossing 50 in the 14th over, before Ali reached her half century in the 20th over, the 100 came up in the 21st, and Amin reached her fifty with a boundary off Nonkululeko Mlaba at the start of the 23rd.

Strangely Khaka had only bowled three overs up front, and was finally brought back in the 29th over, and her second over back, the 31st, saw the breakthrough, just after they reached 150, she trapped Ali LBW.

Aliya Riaz, 33 off 34 (5x4) announced her arrival at the crease with a first ball boundary, and she looked to play positively as they tried to up the scoring rate, passing 200 in the 40th over.

But bad judgement from Riaz then ended a promising 68-run partnership, with her run out by Nondumiso Shangase and Jafta, in the 43rd over as they slipped to 218/3.

That became 223/4 in the next over as new batter Fatima Sana (3) popped an easy catch to Mlaba at mid-off off the bowling of Tumi Sekhukhune, as the Proteas fought back.

Pakistan were then unable to even go at a run-a-ball down the back straight, despite Amin reaching her fifth ODI century with a single at the end of the 44th over, as the Proteas bowlers kept it tight, only allowing them 29 runs off the last six overs of the innings.

Khaka, with 2/36 off her nine overs was the pick of the bowlers, while Sekhkukhune, 1/37 off eight, and Marizanne Kapp only going for 20 runs in her seven overs, also impressed.

PAKISTAN WOMEN: Muneeba Ali, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sidra Amin, Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana (c), Natalia Parvaiz, Sidra Nawaz, Rameen Shamin, Diana Baig, Nashra Sundhu, Sadia Iqal

PROTEAS WOMEN: Tazmin Brits, Laura Wolvaardt (c), Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Annerie Dercksen, Miane Smit, Sinalo Jafta, Nondumiso Shangase, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune