Pakistan left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu has etched her name in the history books with a record-breaking spell against South Africa Women in Lahore. The 27-year-old became the first Asian left-arm spinner to claim a six-wicket haul in Women’s ODIs, finishing with outstanding figures of 9-2-26-6 in the third and final ODI on September 22, 2025.
Her performance not only secured Pakistan a six-wicket victory but also gave fans a moment to remember just days before the Women’s World Cup 2025 begins in India and Sri Lanka.
Opting to bat first, South Africa looked steady at the start, but once Sandhu was introduced into the attack, the game completely shifted. She dismissed captain Sune Luus (25), clean-bowled Miane Smit (7), trapped Sinalo Jafta (13) LBW, and outfoxed Anneke Bosch (8) with flight.
Her best moment came when she delivered a ripper to castle Chloe Tryon for a duck and then pinned Nadine de Klerk (10) leg-before. South Africa crumbled to 115 all out in 25.5 overs, unable to counter her control and guile.
Alhamdullillah,
— Nashra Sundhu (@nashra_sundhu06) September 22, 2025
Truly humbled to reach the milestone of 100 ODI wickets with a player of the match award😇 I am grateful to my family, teammates, and support staff for their constant support.
Looking ahead with gratitude and determination.🙏 pic.twitter.com/E3GUasY2CR
Breaking Records, Setting New Milestones
Sandhu spell went down as the best bowling performance by an Asian left-arm spinner in Women’s ODIs, surpassing India Ekta Bisht 5/8 against Pakistan in 2017.
She also became:
- The first Pakistani woman to take six wickets in a WODI.
- The only Asian left-arm spinner to achieve the feat.
- The latest entrant in Pakistan elite bowling list, joining legends like Sajjida Shah and Anam Amin who had previously taken five-fors.
Adding to the occasion, Sandhu also picked up her 100th ODI wicket during the match, a landmark moment in her career.
Six-Finger Celebration Sparks Debate
After receiving the Player of the Match award, Sandhu posted a picture on social media holding up six fingers to mark her six-wicket haul. While it was a personal celebration, the gesture stirred debate among fans as it came just days after men’s pacer Haris Rauf made a controversial “6-0” gesture towards Indian fans during the Asia Cup.
Though Sandhu did not directly mention India, the timing of her celebration drew parallels and quickly became a talking point online.
Who is Nashra Sandhu?
Born in Lahore on November 19, 1997, Nashra Sandhu made her WODI debut in 2017 against South Africa. Since then, she has been a consistent part of Pakistan spin attack, building her reputation on accuracy and clever variations.
With the Women’s World Cup 2025 beginning on November 30, her form is a massive boost for Pakistan. All of Pakistan group stage matches will be played in Sri Lanka, where spin-friendly conditions could further amplify her impact.
While Pakistan lost the ODI series 2-1, Nashra Sandhu performance gave them a morale-boosting finish. Her historic six-for has not only inspired teammates but also cemented her place as one of Asia premier spinners.
