Proteas Women collapse to 53-run defeat in third T20I against gutsy Pakistan

The Pakistan Women ran themselves out in their setting of the target, but a batting collapse saw the hosts - who had already wrapped up the three-match series - fall way short in their chase.

The visitors elected to bat first and were in trouble early. Proteas Women captain Laura Wolvaardt effected the first of three run-outs of the innings in the second ball of the match, then Pakistan Women's found themselves 10/2 when Masabata Klaas dismissed Gull Feroza.

Pakistan Women rebuilt via Ayesha Zafar (19) and Sidra Amin (26) but lost three more wickets in the middle overs. It was Aliya Riaz and captain Fatima Sana who took them to a competitive total. They put on 70 off 45 before Riaz perished, while Sana remained not out at the end with a fine 47 off 30.

In the chase, the Proteas Women barely got going. Sana drew the edge of Tazmin Britz's bat with the third ball of the innings. Then they lost the backbone of their batting in Lara Goodall, Dane van Niekerk and Laura within the space of six balls, leaving them reeling at 30/4.

Nadine de Klerk and Annerie Dercksen stopped that rot, putting together a 50 partnership to give the Benoni faithful some hope.

But Nashra Sandhu's run-out of Dercksen sparked the beginning of the end for the hosts. The Proteas Women proceeded to lose their final five wickets for just six runs to hand the visitors a consolation victory.