Day 20: women's international cricket is back!

There are days you curse the way that the cricketing schedule works out. Today was one of them. Women's international cricket returned to South Africa as they took on their Pakistan counterparts. It turned out to be an exciting finish with Pakistan nearly stealing victory in the latter stages when all hope had looked lost.

There has been increased chatter about Test match cricket is the best form of cricket after the Australia v India series that finished this week. I don't doubt that for a second, it is something I will often shout from metaphorical rooftops.

However, the other formats have their moments. The 2017 and 2019 World Cup finals proved that ODI cricket has much to offer. It proves that sometimes more than the game's length, you need two teams that refused to roll over.

A low scoring game can have the same if not more drama that a high scoring game. The hard-fought 30 has the same weight as a quickfire hundred, and that is what makes cricket a joy to watch, but the nerve-shredding edge of the seat nail-biter.

South Africa are a team I have admired for a while now. I was impressed with their 2017 World Cup run. They blew the West Indies away at Leicester and came close to knocking out the eventual champions England in the Semi-finals.

Although Dane van Niekerk isn't available for the current series through injury her side oozes class. Laura Wolvaardt is a classical batter, with one of the best cover-drives in world cricket. The fact that she may never play Test cricket seems unfair.

Shabnim Ismail is a bowler who can hurry the best batter on her day and in combination with Marizanene Kapp South Africa have an opening attack that can flatten top-orders with ease.

Lizelle Lee and Mignon du Preez are contrasting batter in the line-up, Lee belts bowlers while du Preez accumulates runs but has found a way of hitting sixes with ease.

Pakistan is starting to prove that potential can be turned into more consistent performances. Nida Dar and Diana Baig were close to getting their team over the line today. Baig struck in the first over trapping Lee lbw for a duck in the first over. The opening bowler took 3 for 46 and Nida Dar 2 for 35.

A 60 run partnership for the ninth wicket took the game down to the final ball, with four to win it could have gone anyway.

What is proven is that the world needs more women's international cricket.