Debutant Kayla Reyneke strikes a last-ball six to drive Proteas Women to sensational victory

Proteas debutant Kayla Reyneke celebrates hitting the winning runs against Pakistan in Potchefstroom on Tuesday night. The Proteas Women’s team may have unearthed a new superstar with the 20-year-old delivering a superb all-round debut performance, capped by a last-ball six, to power the home side to a dramatic five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first T20I in Potchefstroom on Tuesday evening. With the Proteas requiring 10 runs off the last over, Reyneke smashed fellow Pakistan debutant Humna Bilal for a boundary off the third ball before striking the final ball over long-on to send everyone inside the JB Marks Oval into raptures.

Reyneke had struck two hefty blows earlier in her innings too to keep the Proteas on track as she eventually finished unbeaten on 29 off only 16 balls (1×4, 3×6). as the home side chased down Pakistan’s 180/9. The debutant enjoyed some good fortune early on after being given out LBW by umpire Lauren Agenbag , but upon review the decision had to be overturned with the television replays showing the ball was missing leg stump.

Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt ate a chunk out of the record target with her third score in excess of 50 in her last four T20I innings. The Proteas captain was her customary exquisite self, driving down the ground with precision, and pulling across to the leg-side during her 38-ball stay. Unfortunately for the Proteas, Wolvaardt’s nemesis Nashra Sandhu, who has dismissed the home team captain on five occasions now, got one to creep under the skipper’s bat to send her back to the pavilion for 61 (8×4, 1×6).

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Wolvaardt’s dismissal with the Proteas still requiring 48 from 35 balls sent some shivers through the home team dressingroom, especially after Dane van Niekerk (16 off 16 balls) and Lara Goodall (11 off 7 balls) followed their leader back to the dug out shortly afterwards. But Reyneke and Annerie Dercksen (9 not out off 9 balls) held their nerve with an unbroken 38-run partnership off 24 balls to see their side over the line. Pakistan captain Fatima Sana had earlier lit up Potchefstroom with a scintillating 90 off 41 balls.

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