The Proteas women have claimed their first series win since last year’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final in Cape Town.

This morning South Africa beat Pakistan by 8 wickets in the third and final T20 International with nine balls remaining for a 2-1 series victory.

Pakistan scored 153/5 in their allotted 20 overs with Sidra Amin scoring 37 runs. The wicketkeeper and opening batter Muneeba Ali scored 33, while the captain Fatima Sana scored 27.

Anneke Bosch. Photo: Cricinfo

In reply, Anneke Bosch scored 46 before retiring hurt, while Laura Wolvaardt scored 45 and Annerie Dercksen was unbeaten on 44 as South Africa chased down the runs.

The former Free State player, Bosch, was showing really good form with the bat before her innings came to a halt. Dercksen, who also played for the University of the Free State and the Free State played arguably her best innings for South Africa and she wasted no time at the crease in hitting the winning runs.

The allrounder Dercksen hit six fours and two sixes in her outstandings which lasted just 223 balls. This was a career-highest innings for the 23-year-old.

Dercksen told OFM Sport it was important to showcase their batting depth in the series, especially before the T20 World Cup.

“We spoke about it in our batters meeting yesterday,” said Dercksen.

“I think that we’ve got great depth in our batting line-up at the moment. Today Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk didn’t even face a ball and they are quality ball-strikers.

“We have amazing depth in our batting line-up at the moment and this is something that is very exciting for us.”

The next stop for South Africa is the UAE for the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup. The Proteas will face the West Indies on 4 October in their opening game in Dubai.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg