Twenty-year-old debutant Kayla Reyneke was South Africa’s heroine as she smashed a six off the last ball to enable her team to squeeze home by five wickets against Pakistan Women in the first T20I at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on Tuesday.
South Africa’s total of 185-5 was the highest in women’s T20s at The Oval after Pakistan, powered by a magnificent 90 in 41 balls from their captain, Fatima Sana, had set the home team a formidable target of 181 to win.
Needing 20 off the last two overs, Reyneke smashed Sana for six over long-on to get the target down to 10 off the final over.
She drove fellow debutant Humna Bilal for four off the fourth ball and then, with SA needing two to win off the last ball, she crashed it for six over extra-cover to complete a thrilling win for the home team.
🚨 MATCH RESULT 🚨
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) February 10, 2026
What a way to kick off the Pakistan Women's tour of South Africa at JB Marks Oval!! An absolute edge-of-your-seat contest from start to finish! 🔥🙆♀️#TheProteas claim victory in the series opener by 5 wickets, taking a 1-0 lead as we head to Benoni on Friday.… pic.twitter.com/PVKsSDMrbr
Reyneke, who was seen crying with joy during the SA anthem before the match, said she also cried at the end of the game after hitting the winning six off the last ball. "I think it was because my mom was in the stands. That was pretty special," she said.
She said she didn't want to overcomplicate things when she went out to bat, but just hit the ball hard when the opportunity arose.
She was also very "pleased" with her bowling, finishing with 2-13 off her four overs – the best analysis by a SA women on debut.
"It's not really about me," she added, "it's all about the team winning. But I would like to thank the coaches and the players for backing me."
Earlier, South Africa had looked on course for victory following a 62-run partnership in 35 balls between skipper Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus, followed by Wolvaardt and Dane van Niekerk adding a further 46 off 32 balls for the fourth wicket.
But when Wolvaardt was stumped for a fine 61 in 38 balls offspinner Nashra Sandhu, South Africa lost three wickets for 14 runs as Pakistan came right back into the game.
Laura Wolvaardt 🇿🇦👏
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) February 10, 2026
She powers to a well-fought 61 runs off 38 balls 🏏
📺 Stream #SAvPAK on DStv: https://t.co/rM90YyQxaw pic.twitter.com/3VRNXGYBaj
But Reyneke, a former SA U19 captain, showed nerves of steel, remarkable in one so young, to see her team home with some power hitting.
SENSATIONAL SANA
Earlier, Sana’s remarkable innings, which included nine fours and seven sixes, looked set fair to give her team the advantage.
Aside from it being her first T20I half-century, Sana also struck seven sixes in her innings, the most by a Pakistan batter in a T20I.
Batting at No 8, she rescued her country from the depths of 64 for six, with her team striking 77 runs off the last five overs as South Africa’s bowling disciplines crumbled.
HIGHEST SCORE BY A NO. 8 BATTER IN WT20Is 🫡
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) February 10, 2026
9️⃣0️⃣ off 4️⃣1️⃣ balls
9️⃣ fours
7️⃣ sixes
Breathtaking stuff from captain @imfatimasana 🙌#SAWvPAKW #BackOurGirls pic.twitter.com/xi4srH36Xr
The Pakistan women were consistent throughout their innings, looking to be aggressive at every opportunity.
Their powerplay of 46 was impressive, but they also lost three wickets with Ayanda Hlubi claiming the scalps of Ayesha Zafar and Sidra Amin off consecutive deliveries, the first caught low at midwicket by Annerie Dercksen and the latter trapped leg before on review.
Natalia Pervaiz continued to attack, smacking 20 off 17 balls but she became the second victim of Reyneke, well caught by SA skipper Wolvaardt at long-on.
She had claimed her first wicket in her first over, yorking opener Gull Feroza. The youngster finished with the fine figures of 2-13 in her four overs, the best analysis by a South African on debut.
A dream start to an international career! ✨
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) February 10, 2026
Kayla Reyneke makes a stunning entrance, claiming her first T20I wicket in her very first over! 🤩
What a phenomenal young talent! 🇿🇦#Unbreakable pic.twitter.com/O0UEZOUENi
The key stand of the innings, however, came from Sana and Umm-e-Hani after Pakistan looked destined for a moderate total.
The pair added 74 off 43 balls for the seventh wicket, a record in women’s internationals at the ground, with Sana’s dominant contribution being 59.
The Pakistan captain continued on her merry way, cracking 23 off the last over from Ayabonga Khaka before she was finally defeated off the last ball, a slower delivery that shattered her stumps.
Aside from Reyneke, South Africa’s bowling was disappointing with far too many deliveries speared down the legside, easy pickings for Sana who delighted in finding the boundary on many occasions.
All the pace bowlers went for big runs, even Hlubi who claimed three wickets but was hit for 41 in three overs. Khaka was even more expensive, going for 49.
SOUTH AFRICA WOMEN: Tazmin Brits, Sune Luus, Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Dane van Niekerk, Lara Goodall, Annerie Dercksen, Kayla Reyneke, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayanda Hlubi
PAKISTAN WOMEN: Muneeba Ali (wk), Gull Feroza, Ayesha Zafar, Sidra Amin, Natalia Pervaiz, Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana (capt), Humna Bilal, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal, Umm-e-Hani