Bismah Maroof missed out on a maiden ODI hundred, but her 99, followed by a three-wicket haul from left-arm spinner Anam Amin sent Pakistan Women on their way to a 57-run win against South Africa Women in Sharjah.
Pakistan, opting to bat, lost their opener Marina Iqbal early, but Maroof and Javeria Khan (49) counterattacked, adding 88 runs for the second wicket. Legpspinner Sune Luus (4 for 38) then sliced through Pakistan’s top order with four wickets, but Maroof led another recovery, this time combining with Asmavia Iqbal for a sixth-wicket association which yielded 74 runs. Maroof batted for nearly three hours, striking three fours, but was run out one short of a century, as Pakistan compiled 216 for 9.
Several South Africa batsmen made starts during the chase, but their inability to convert them into a much-needed fifty hurt the team. Their opener Trisha Chetty was the only player to score more than 30, as Sana Mir (2 for 22) and Amin (3 for 24) kept pegging them back at regular intervals. Maroof, who was adjudged the Player of the Match, capped off a fine performance by snaring the wicket of Luus, while Asmavia and Nida Dar also chipped in with a scalp each, restricting South Africa to 159 for 9.
