47* (30) and 2-12: Pakistan captain caps off record-breaking SA series with match-winning act in final T20I

Fatima Sana stars once again vs South Africa

After a scarcely believable assault from No.8 in the first T20I where she smashed 90 of 41 balls – beating the previous highest score from No.8 or lower in women's T20Is by 33 runs – Fatima Sana was at it again in the third and final match of the series.

Also read: Dream debut: South Africa newbie's last-ball six trumps Pakistan skipper’s record-breaking knock

Winning the toss, Pakistan elected to bat first but got off to a terrible start, losing both their openers for two-ball ducks. Ayesha Zafar (19 off 21) and Sidra Amin (26 off 25) then added 38 for the third wicket to provide some stability. Sana arrived at the crease in the 12th over at the score of 68-5 and teed right away.

The Pakistan captain stuck three fours and a six in the first 10 balls she faced to provide much-needed impetus to the innings. She was well-supported by Aliya Riaz (26 off 25), and the two combined to add 70 runs for the sixth wicket in 45 balls. Sana remained unbeaten on 47 off 30 balls with four fours and two sixes as Pakistan ended on 144-7 in their 20 overs.

Sana's heroics weren't over there. She then opened the bowling for Pakistan and struck in the very first over, removing the dangerous Tazmin Brits for a duck. After Sadia Iqbal wrecked the South African innings with a double strike in the fourth over, Sana returned to get another huge wicket – this time of her counterpart Laura Wolvaardt – in the fifth.

Also read: The Tazmin Brits story: A broken Olympic javelin dream, now in sight of an ODI world record

From 30-4 in 4.1 overs, Nadine de Klerk (27 off 30) and Annerie Dercksen (30 off 38) tried to consolidate, but in another stunning collapse, South Africa lost five wickets for just six runs to get bowled out for 91.

Pakistan's victory by 53 runs has now become their biggest in women's T20Is against South Africa. In fact, it's their biggest women's T20I win against any team other than Bangladesh, Ireland, Malaysia, UAE, and Sri Lanka.

Fatima Sana breaks all-time T20I record

While Pakistan lost the series 2-1, their captain enjoyed a run like never before. In three matches, she made 146 runs, batting once each at No.6, 7, and 8. This is now the highest run-aggregate by any batter - male or female - in a bilateral three-match T20I series from No.6 or lower.

The previous highest was Sri Lanka's Isuru Udana's 132 runs in a three-match men's T20I series against South Africa in 2019. In women's T20Is, Phoebe Litchfield held the record, having made 88 runs in two innings against the West Indies in 2023.

Most runs from No.6 or below in three-match T20I series