Proteas Women stumble in dead rubber as Pakistan claim consolation victory in Benoni

The Proteas Women's team succumbed to a 53-run defeat against Pakistan in the third T20I at Willowmoore Park in Benoni.

The hosts had already sealed the series, but Pakistan would have been left wondering that they may been able to secure a series victory after losing the first match on the last ball in Potchefstroom last week.

It was again the visitors' skipper Fatima Sana that played a heroic innings at the backend to push her team up to 144-7 after initially being reduced to 68/5. 

Sana smashed an unbeaten 47 off 30 balls (4x4, 2x6) to follow up her career-best 90 in Potch as the Proteas took their foot off the pedal. 

The lack of intensity was evident with the Proteas dropping a number of catches in the outfield. 

This lethargy filtered through to the batting effort with Tazmin Brits caught behind for a duck the second ball of the run-chase. 

From there it was all downhill with Lara Goodall (11), Dane van Niekerk (0) and captain Laura Wolvaardt (11) all falling in the Powerplay as the Proteas limped to 30/4. 

The task became even greater after star allrounder Marizanne Kapp was unable to bat due to feeling unwell.

Annerie Dercksen (30) and Nadine de Klerk (27) attempted a rescue act with a 55-run partnership for the fifth wicket, but truth be told this could have ended earlier too had Pakistan taken their catches in the deep and completed the run out of De Klerk.

But they eventually did take their chance when De Klerk struck Dercksen at the non-striker's end with the ball ricocheting straight to the bowler which Dercksen left stranded. 

It was a comical dismissal but set the tone for the chaos that was to unfold with the further two run outs of Masabata Klaas and Ayabonga Khaka over the course of the next five deliveries. 

SCOREBOARD

Pakistan: 144/7 (Sana 47, Riaz 26, Amin 26, Mlaba 1/22)

South Africa: 91 all out (Dercksen 30, De Klerk 30, Iqbal 3/18)

Pakistan won by 53 runs, SA win the series 2-1