SA W 207/7 (49) | Live cricket score, Pakistan vs South Africa, ICC Women’s World Cup 2017: SA panic, clinch thriller by 3 wickets

SA W 207/7 (49) | Live cricket score, Pakistan vs South Africa, ICC Women’s World Cup 2017: SA panic, clinch thriller by 3 wickets

Hello and welcome to CricketCountry’s live updates of the third match, of ICC Women’s World Cup 2017, between Pakistan and South Africa. I am Suvajit Mustafi, and I will provide all the live happenings — from scorecard to posts on social media space. Both teams suffered a drubbing against Australia in the warm-ups, but later made amends comfortably beating West Indies. To put things into perspective, this is a battle of equals. Neither Pakistan nor South Africa have won the title, but that does not mean that they will be fallible in this flagship tournament. Both teams boast of players who can create upsets to best of the teams.

From Wasim Akram to Shoaib Malik to Sarfraz Ahmed, former and current Pakistan cricketers have wished well for their countrywomen before the tournament. They, however, do not have a good record in the World Cup. Participating in three editions, they managed victories in only one of them. That said, they are a much-improved unit now. They have batters such as Bismah Maroof and Javeria Khan playing under inspirational leadership of Sana Mir who leads the spin attack, their best suit.

South Africa, on the other hand, are termed dark horses in this edition. Ranked sixth in ICC ODI Rankings, they have No. 1 ODI bowler and No. 2 all-rounder in Marizanne Kapp.

This is the best South African side to ever play a World Cup. They have five batters and four bowlers in the Top 20 of the ICC ODI rankings.

Although South Africa enter as favourites in this match, they will not have an easy time against Sana Mir’s spirited team. Who knows, like India beat the favourites England yesterday, Pakistan may pull off an improbable result.

Squads:

South Africa: Dane van Niekerk (c), Trisha Chetty (wk), Moseline Daniels, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Shabnim Ismail, Nadine de Klerk, Lizelle Lee, Sune Luus, Raisibe Ntozhake, Mignon du Preez, Andrie Steyn, Chloe Tryon, Laura Wolvaardt

Pakistan: Sana Mir (c), Sidra Nawaz (wk), Ayesha Zafar, Bibi Nahida, Marina Iqbal, Bismah Maroof, Javeria Khan, Syeda Nain Fatima Abidi, Kainat Imtiaz, Asmavia Iqbal, Diana Baig, Waheeda Akhtar, Nashra Sandhu, Ghulam Fatima, Sadia Yousuf