All-round Pakistan Women claim T20 title

Pakistan Women capitalised on a poor batting display by South Africa Women to win the final of the PCB Qatar Women's 20-Over Tri-series by seven wickets in Doha on Friday.

South Africa were put in to bat and their innings had a poor start as pacer Asmavia Iqbal dismissed opener Lizelle Lee off the first ball of the match. That early wicket set the trend for the rest of South Africa's innings. South Africa did not help their cause with four run-outs, and more than half their total came courtesy Marizanne Kapp, who scored a 48-ball 40. After Kapp, the second-highest score in the innings was Sunette Loubser with 8. Iqbal and pacer Sania Khan picked up two wickets apiece as South Africa stuttered to 68 for 9 in their 20 overs.

Pakistan's chase was guided by opener Javeria Khan, who scored 38 off 46 balls with three fours. The side lost three wickets in their chase, but the target of 69 was hardly demanding and Pakistan went past it with nearly four overs to spare.

South Africa captain Mignon du Preez said, despite the implosion in the final, her team had done very well overall on the tour. "We had a bad day at the office today," she said. "We didn't put on the runs needed to have a competitive enough game and we disappointed ourselves. Hats off to Pakistan for playing their game ruthlessly and getting the win.

"But I'm proud of our team's efforts throughout this tour here in Doha, we have shown ourselves and many others that we are definitely a team to watch out for in the World T20. Now, it's time for us to go home and to work out the problem areas that we have discovered here and make sure we are at our peak by the time we reach Bangladesh [for the World T20]."