Fatima Sana’s heroics paper over the cracks in Pakistan cricket

South Africa (127/8) beat Pakistan (1126/9) by 2 wickets

• Both teams seemed determined to lose a chaotic encounter

• Pakistan inspired by Fatima Sana’s 55 after collapsing to 45/7

• Dercksen’s rapid 50 eases South Africa’s nerves as they make a mess of the chase

• Fatima Sana takes 3/16 in impressive all-round performance

There are clearly some major issues in the Pakistan women’s cricket team. A chaotic innings batting first against South Africa saw them crash to 45/7 after 10 overs of this game. The peerless Marizanne Kapp tore through the top order of Pakistan, removing Muneeba Ali from the first ball of the innings, then running through Gull Feroza and Ayesha Zafar by midway through the third over.

Pakistan then contributed to their own downfall by some of the craziest, most chaotic and amateurish running between the wickets one is likely to witness at this World Cup. Three different batters decided to run kamikaze singles to balls which were hit straight to fielders in the ring. Iram Javed, Rameen Shamim and Nashra Sundhu were all despatched back to the dugout, their backward glares at their batting partners unable to undo the self-inflicted damage induced by the panic of a mid-innings implosion.

Enter the most accomplished number 8 in World cricket. It is a mystery to everyone save the Pakistan coach why Fatima Sana bats at number 8 for Pakistan. Maybe it’s as an insurance policy for when they are seven down after 10 overs.

Gently she managed the strike, took a few, but not too many risks and, alongside Tuba Hassan, who grew in confidence with every passing over, she put together a partnership which took Pakistan from ignominy to acceptability to defendable target. It was in the final over that she let loose, launching Nadine de Klerk for two sixes to bring up her 50 and then see Pakistan to a total of 126/9.

South Africa faced a similar task to England yesterday against Ireland – chase a small target without messing it up. And just like England, they almost messed it up. Batter after batter got herself in and then got herself out. Dercksen’s authoritative 52 from 35 balls, which included two massive sixes gave South Africa reassurance that they surely couldn’t fail despite the uncharacteristically soft dismissals of Wolvaardt, Kapp, Tryon and Reyneke.

As Reyneke headed back to the dugout at the start of the 15^th over, with South Africa 107/6 and still needing 20 runs for victory, even the most confident Proteas supporter was starting to have some doubts. However, the hitting of de Klerk, accompanied by Jafta, who hit her first ball for four, saw the deficit reduce to single figures by the 16^th over. With the finishing line in view, both Jafta and de Klerk fell to Fatima Sana, meaning it was down to Ayabonga Khaka to “win” the match by facing a wide from Sana, enabling South Africa to crawl home in an aptly chaotic manner.

It was a nervy and unconvincing win for South Africa, aided and abetted throughout by some very poor and uncommitted fielding from Pakistan. It would appear that both these teams may be heading for an early exit from this tournament. If South Africa are to beat India at Old Trafford on Sunday, there needs to be a vast improvement from this game.