South Africa withstood a brilliant all-round performance from Pakistan’s Fatima Sana to open their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 account with a two-wicket win at Edgbaston.
Batting first, the Pakistan skipper came to the crease with her side 33 for six and was later joined by Tuba Hassan, the pair adding 71 for the ninth wicket to help the team to 126 for nine from their 20 overs.
In reply, Annerie Dercksen (52) showed plenty of intent to ensure South Africa were always ahead of the required rate, even though Pakistan chipped away with regular wickets.
But Nadine de Klerk’s 37 brought the scores level and after Fatima dismissed her, a wide saw South Africa over the line.
FATIMA AND TUBA RESCUE PAKISTAN
Pakistan, ranked eighth in the world, won the toss but it was fifth-ranked South Africa who got off to the perfect start, Marizanne Kapp pinning Muneeba Ali leg before with the first ball of the game, after the original not out verdict was overturned on review.
The South African seamer had another five balls later, clattering Gull Feroza’s middle stump to leave Wahab Riaz’s side three for two.
Ayesha Zafar (9) managed to pull the Proteas’ second-leading T20I wicket-taker for four in the third over, but Kapp (3/23) had her third victim when she trapped her LBW the following delivery.
Natalia Pervaiz (4) dragged Ayabonga Khaka’s second ball onto her own stumps as Pakistan fell to 14 for four.
Rameen Shamim (6) was run out by Nadine de Klerk after a mix-up in the middle, and Iram Javed, one of two Pakistan changes from their loss to India, was the next to fall to a professional South African fielding display, run out by Kayla Reyneke for 11.
Aliya Riaz (10) tried to put some pressure on the bowlers but was caught at backward point by Sune Luus after advancing down the track to Shabnim Ismail (1/15), with Pakistan struggling at 45 for seven at the halfway point.
Nashra Sundhu (0) was the third to be run out, stranded at the non-striker’s end after attempting a single with her partner, Fatima Sana, on the floor after colliding with Kapp.
Resistance, though, came in the form of Fatima and Tuba Hassan.
Captain Fatima, the ICC’s seventh-ranked all-rounder, played a thrilling counter-attacking knock, striking 55 from 38 balls including back-to-back sixes off De Klerk to bring up her half-century in the final over.
Tuba (23) played her part before being run out at the death, as the pair compiled the highest ninth-wicket partnership in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup history (71), with Pakistan finishing on 126 for nine.
DESTRUCTIVE DERCKSEN AND DE KLERK HELP SOUTH AFRICA IN TRICKY CHASE
Fatima was soon back in the action as South Africa began their reply, forcing Luus (5) to chop back onto her stumps in the second over.
Annerie Dercksen did not take long to get going, cutting Fatima to the fence later that over.
She then launched Rameen over deep midwicket and followed it with consecutive fours, with South Africa reaching 48 for one at the end of the powerplay.
Laura Wolvaardt (8), playing her 100th T20I, swept Sadia Iqbal to fine leg off Tuba (2/28), but it did not deter Dercksen.
She smashed Nashra for a massive six and then cut away for four to bring up a 32-ball half-century in the 10th over, with South Africa 75 for two.
But Kapp (10) was stumped by Muneeba later that over after a long umpire’s review, and Dercksen was bowled through her legs by a ripping Tuba leg-break for 52 as they fell to 76 for four in the 11th over.
Chloe Tryon (4) was caught behind off Sadia (2/26) in the 13th over, and Reyneke (2) chipped straight to Fatima off the same bowler two overs later, but De Klerk remained calm, surviving two dropped chances to take her side to the verge of victory.
It looked as though there may be a late twist when Sinalo Jafta (5) was bowled by Fatima (3/16) and De Klerk (37) was caught behind with the scores still level.
But a Fatima wide finished things off, South Africa winning by two wickets with 19 balls to spare.
Scores in brief
Pakistan v South Africa – Edgbaston, Birmingham
Pakistan 126/9 in 20 overs (Fatima Sana 55 not out, Tuba Hassan 23; Marizanne Kapp 3/23, Shabnim Ismail 1/15)
South Africa 127/8 in 16.5 overs (Annerie Dercksen 52, Nadine de Klerk 37; Fatima Sana 3/16, Sadia Iqbal 2/26)
Result: South Africa win by two wickets
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