Kapp, Brits hit centuries to help South Africa whip Pakistan

By our correspondent
LAHORE: Marizanne Kapp (121*) and Tazmin Brits (101*) powered South Africa Women to a dominant eight-wicket victory over Pakistan Women in the opening match of the three-game ODI series at Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.
Under the lights, the duo stitched together a record-breaking unbeaten 216-run partnership for the third wicket, guiding South Africa to a successful chase of the 256-run target with 10 balls to spare.
Their stand surpassed the previous highest third-wicket partnership for South Africa Women — 177 runs between Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus against Ireland in Dublin on June 17, 2022.
Both Kapp and Brits displayed a blend of precision and aggression, rotating the strike effectively while capitalizing on loose deliveries.
Kapp brought up her fourth career century in style, scoring an unbeaten 121 off 128 balls, studded with 13 fours and two sixes. Brits, meanwhile, played a composed yet commanding innings, reaching her fifth ODI century off 120 balls, including nine boundaries.
South Africa’s chase began shakily after left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal clean-bowled skipper Laura Wolvaardt for just 4. Sune Luus looked promising with a quickfire 30 off 35 balls, hitting seven fours before being trapped lbw by off-spinner Rameen Shamim.
Sadia Iqbal (1-41) and Rameen Shamim (1-29) were the only wicket-takers for Pakistan.
Earlier, Pakistan opted to bat first and posted a competitive 255-4 in their 50 overs, thanks to a superb unbeaten 121 from opener Sidra Amin.
Sidra played a composed and responsible innings, anchoring the Pakistan innings and reaching her fifth ODI century off 127 balls, having brought up her fifty from 63 deliveries. Her 150-ball knock featured 12 fours.
After losing Shawaal Zulfiqar for a duck early on, Sidra formed a record 147-run partnership for the second wicket with left-hander Muneeba Ali, who struck a fluent 76 off 94 balls with 11 fours. They eclipsed the previous second-wicket record stand of 143 runs between Sidra Amin and Bismah Maroof against Sri Lanka in Karachi in June 2022.
Muneeba brought up her half-century in 65 balls but was dismissed lbw by Ayabonga Khaka. She was earlier dropped on 53 at gully off the bowling of Sune Luus.
Sidra then shared a 68-run stand for the third wicket with Aliya Riaz, who scored a brisk 33 from 34 balls, including five boundaries, before being run out.
Pakistan, however, could not capitalize on their strong platform and managed only 52 runs in the final 10 overs, as South Africa tightened the screws with disciplined bowling at the death.
Ayabonga Khaka was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 2-36 in nine overs. Tumi Sekhukhune claimed 1-37 in eight, while spinner Nondumiso Shangase proved expensive, leaking 32 runs in just four overs.