Nashra Sandhu’s Six-Wicket Haul Powers Pakistan Women to Consolation Win

On September 22, 2025, the South Africa Women’s team walked out to bat first in the third ODI against Pakistan Women at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, hoping to wrap up the series with a 3-0 sweep. They had already pocketed the first two games, and confidence was high. But the pitch, which promised to assist spinners as the day wore on, had other plans. Pakistan’s bowlers, led by the sensational Nashra Sandhu, turned the tables, and what started as a promising innings for South Africa crumbled into a dramatic collapse, setting up a thrilling chase.

South Africa Women’s Innings

The game kicked off with South Africa’s captain, Laura Wolvaardt, and young opener Karabo Meso at the crease. Wolvaardt was in no mood to hang around. She came out swinging, cracking six boundaries in a blazing 28 off just 23 balls. Meso, meanwhile, played the anchor, happy to nudge singles and let her captain do the heavy lifting. Together, they raced to 38 in 6.4 overs, looking like they would set a big platform for the middle order.

Powerplay wrapped ✅

The Proteas Women are 61/3 after 10 overs. 🇿🇦 #AlwaysRising #WozaNawe pic.twitter.com/x0WN8tl4i3

— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) September 22, 2025

Then came the first twist. In the seventh over, Diana Baig struck. Wolvaardt, trying to keep up her attacking game, went for another drive but edged it straight back to Baig, who held on for a sharp caught-and-bowled. At 38 for 1, South Africa still had control, but losing their in-form skipper was a blow. The Pakistani fans in the stands roared, sensing a chance to claw their way back. Sune Luus strode in at number three, and she wasn’t about to let the momentum slip.

She got off the mark with a couple of cracking boundaries, racing to 10 off just eight balls. Alongside Meso, she pushed the score past 50 in the eighth over, keeping the run rate ticking nicely. But Pakistan had a trump card in Nashra Sandhu, and when she came into the attack, things changed fast. In her second over, Sandhu tossed one up, tempting Luus into a sweep. The ball caught the edge and looped to Diana Baig at short fine leg. Luus was gone for 10, and at 50 for 2 after 8.2 overs, South Africa were wobbling.

Meso, who had been solid but boundary-less with 12 off 20, couldn’t hold the fort much longer. In the ninth over, Omaima Sohail got her with a clever delivery that Meso chipped straight back to the bowler. Caught and bowled, and just like that, South Africa were 59 for 3. The wheels were starting to come off, and Pakistan’s spinners were loving the conditions. Miane Smit walked in, determined to fight fire with fire. She smashed two boundaries in her quick nine off six balls, showing some spark. But Sandhu was in no mood to let anyone settle. In the 10th over, she sent down a beauty that spun sharply, beating Smit’s defense and crashing into the stumps. At 61 for 4, South Africa were in serious trouble, and the Pakistani bowlers were buzzing.

Sinalo Jafta, the wicket-keeper, came in next, but the situation was getting desperate. She managed just four off nine balls before Sandhu struck again in the 13th over. Jafta went for a big shot, missed, and was pinned lbw. The umpire didn’t hesitate, and replays showed the ball was hitting the stumps. At 73 for 5 during the drinks break, South Africa’s hopes of a big total were fading fast.

Anneke Bosch, who had been quietly holding things together with 10 off 15 balls, tried to dig in. She hit a couple of nice boundaries, but Sandhu was relentless. In the 15th over, Bosch went for a lofted shot, only to pick out Sidra Amin at mid-off. The score slid to 77 for 6, and South Africa were staring down the barrel. Chloe Tryon, known for her big-hitting, was next up, but even she couldn’t turn the tide. She scratched around for three off 14 balls before Sandhu bowled her with a low skiddy delivery in the 17th over.

Nadine de Klerk showed some grit, scoring 13 off 24 with a couple of boundaries, but Sandhu wasn’t done. In the 21st over, de Klerk misjudged a sweep and was trapped lbw, becoming Sandhu’s sixth victim. The score was 95 for 8, and South Africa’s innings was in tatters. Ayabonga Khaka and Masabata Klaas put up some resistance, inching the team past 100 in the 23rd over. Khaka made eight off 19, including a boundary, but she fell to Syeda Aroob Shah in the 26th over, bowled by a well-placed delivery. Nonkululeko Mlaba didn’t last long, nicking one from Shah to Eyman Fatima for a duck off three balls. Klaas, unbeaten on 13 off 14 with two boundaries, gave the total a bit of respectability with a late flurry. But it wasn’t enough as South Africa were all out for 115 in 25.5 overs, with a run rate of 4.45.

Change of Innings 🔄

The Proteas Women have set 115 after 25.5 overs.

Time for the bowlers to take charge and fight for every wicket! 💥#AlwaysRising #WozaNawe pic.twitter.com/UpnnDbkbiW

— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) September 22, 2025

Nashra Sandhu was the hero, finishing with a stunning 6 for 26 off nine overs, including two maidens. Her economy of 2.88 and 42 dot balls showed how she strangled South Africa’s batting. Syeda Aroob Shah chipped in with 2 for 16, while Omaima Sohail and Diana Baig took one each. Fatima Sana and Rameen Shamim didn’t get wickets but bowled tightly to keep the pressure on.

Pakistan Women’s Innings

When the Pakistan Women’s team began their chase of 116, they knew a steady hand could get them over the line and give their fans something to cheer about in a series already lost 2-0. Openers Muneeba Ali and Omaima Sohail stepped out under the floodlights, facing South Africa’s disciplined attack, led by Ayabonga Khaka and Nonkululeko Mlaba. But things went south quickly. In the second over, Sohail flicked a ball from Mlaba straight to Miane Smit at short midwicket, gone for a duck off one ball. At 0 for 1 after 1.1 overs, Pakistan were rocked early, and South Africa’s bowlers had their tails up.

End of the Powerplay ✅

Pakistan Women 24/1.
The Proteas Women keeping the pressure on early! 🏏#AlwaysRising #WozaNawe pic.twitter.com/sFdoFXT9mp

— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) September 22, 2025

Sidra Amin joined Ali, and the pair set about rebuilding. Ali took the lead, playing some lovely drives and cuts to score 44 off 76 balls, including six boundaries. Amin, more cautious, focused on rotating the strike. The powerplay was slow, with just 24 runs for one wicket in 10 overs, as Khaka and Mlaba kept things tight. Pakistan reached 50 in the 18th over, thanks to a 65-run stand off 120 balls between Ali and Amin. Ali contributed 33 of those runs, Amin 16, with a couple of extras thrown in. At drinks after 19 overs, Pakistan were 57 for 1, with Ali on 38 and Amin on 17, looking comfortable but not out of the woods.

The game shifted again in the 22nd over when Nadine de Klerk struck. Ali, trying to cut, edged one to keeper Sinalo Jafta for 44, leaving Pakistan at 65 for 2. Captain Fatima Sana came in but lasted just two balls, nicking a de Klerk delivery to Chloe Tryon at mid-on for a duck. At 66 for 3 after 21.3 overs, the chase was getting tense, and South Africa sensed a chance to pull off a miracle. Natalia Pervaiz, walking in at number five, brought some much-needed energy.

She smashed 14 off 10 balls, including two boundaries, taking on Mlaba and Tryon with confidence. Her quickfire knock, alongside Amin, pushed Pakistan to 100 in the 28th over. But just when it looked like she would see them home, Pervaiz missed a big shot off Mlaba and was bowled in the 29th over. At 104 for 4, Pakistan needed just 12 more runs, and the finish line was in sight.

Debutant Eyman Fatima came in and played a calm supporting role, finishing not out on two off three balls. Sidra Amin, the rock of the innings, stayed unbeaten on 50 off 94 balls, with eight boundaries. Her patient, composed knock kept Pakistan on track, and she hit the winning runs in the 31st over to seal a six-wicket win at 117 for 4, with a run rate of 3.77.

Pakistan Women secured victory in the 3rd ODI by 6 wickets.

The Proteas Women finish the series as champions, 2-1, showcasing excellent teamwork, determination, and skill throughout all three matches.

Congratulations to the team on a well-deserved series win. 🏆💪🏏… pic.twitter.com/9m2ID9hC72

— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) September 22, 2025

South Africa’s bowlers fought hard. Mlaba led with 2 for 46 in 10 overs, including two maidens and 42 dot balls. De Klerk took 2 for 19 in five overs, while Khaka was stingy, conceding just seven runs in five overs. Tryon, Klaas, and Luus didn’t take wickets but kept the pressure on. South Africa’s fielders, with catches from Jafta, Smit, and Tryon, were sharp, but it wasn’t enough to defend 115.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

When South Africa Women found themselves in a tough spot, Nashra Sandhu stole the show with a spell that was pure magic. The Pakistan spinner ripped through the visitors’ batting with a stunning 6 for 26 in nine overs, including two maidens and a miserly economy of 2.88. Her first big moment came when she got Sune Luus (10) to edge a sweep to short fine leg.

🌟 Player of the Match 🌟
Nashra Sandhu shines bright with a career-best 6/26 in ODIs — clinches the award & prize money! 💫🔥#Cricket #PakistanCricket #cricprozone #PAKWvSAW #BackOurGirls pic.twitter.com/1cTjr2dqjl

— cricprozone (@cricprozone) September 22, 2025

From there, she was unstoppable, clean-bowling Miane Smit (9), trapping Sinalo Jafta (4) lbw, and dismissing Anneke Bosch (10), Chloe Tryon (3), and Nadine de Klerk (13). Her 42 dot balls and clever variations left South Africa clueless, as they slumped to 115 all out in 25.5 overs.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

Sidra Amin was the heart and soul of Pakistan’s chase, earning her the TCNI Hero of the Day. Her unbeaten 50 off 94 balls, with eight boundaries, was a masterclass in composure. After Pakistan lost Omaima Sohail for a duck, Amin steadied the ship with a 65-run stand alongside Muneeba Ali (44).

A trailblazing feat with back-to-back ODI tons for Sidra Amin in the #PAKvSA series 🔥

Watch Pakistan in action at #CWC25, which begins September 30 🤩 pic.twitter.com/mXqoRqDCoO

— ICC (@ICC) September 21, 2025

Even when quick wickets fell, leaving Pakistan at 66 for 3, Amin kept her cool, guiding her team to 117 for 4 in 31 overs. Her ability to find gaps, rotate the strike, and stay calm under pressure was crucial. Hitting the winning runs to seal a six-wicket victory, Amin proved she’s a rising star in Pakistan’s lineup, fully deserving the Hero of the Day title.