THE FUSE

Despite a defeat in the final T20I, Proteas Women secure the series and now set the stage for the next challenge in Bloemfontein.

Benoni, South Africa (17 February 2026) – There was disappointment on Monday night in Benoni, but not despair.

The Proteas Women may have fallen short in the final T20 International against Pakistan at Willowmoore Park, yet the bigger picture tells a steadier story. Having already secured victories in the opening two matches, South Africa claimed the three-match T20I series despite a 53-run defeat in the third encounter.

Sent in to bat, Pakistan staged a strong recovery from 68-5, led by captain Fatima Sana’s unbeaten 47 off 30 balls. The Proteas fought hard in the chase, but despite some promising partnerships, they couldn’t quite bridge the gap.

Tweet

Even though Pakistan won the final match, South Africa had already won the series. The game showed the areas the Proteas look to improve, especially in fielding. Across the series, there were a few close calls (like in the first match in Potchefstroom, which South Africa only won on the last ball), and Pakistan managed to recover from difficult situations in more than one game.

Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt reflected after the match.

“I think we’ve been playing some very good cricket but lost our way today. I think we bowled pretty well, but our fielding let us down again, which was something we wanted to be a lot better at today.”

Still, perspective matters. A series win remains a series win, and with momentum built over two strong performances earlier in the contest, the Proteas now shift their focus to the 50-over format.

Up next is a three-match ODI series against Pakistan, beginning on Sunday in Bloemfontein. It presents an immediate opportunity to respond this time with an eye on delivering a more complete performance across all departments.

Sources: SuperSport/ Proteas Women

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google.

Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes and hear their incredible stories:

Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.