Proteas Women Take the Series, Eyes on ODIs Next

Photo Credit: Proteas Women via X

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.

CHAMPIONS! 🏆#TheProteas wrap up a sensational T20I series with a 2-1 victory over Pakistan Women! 🏏🇿🇦

Well contested from start to finish, delivering remarkable action every step of the way. 👏💪#Unbreakable pic.twitter.com/PcmT8xGxeu

— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) February 16, 2026

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.