Karachi, May 21, 2023.
The T20 leg of the 2022-23 Pakistan Cup Women’s Cricket Tournament consisted of four teams, so the ACC Women’s Asia Cup prospect in Hong Kong next month could get maximum game practice ahead of the big event.
These budding women cricketers, captained by Pakistan seamer Fatima Sana, shaped the Strikers and made the most of the opportunity to win all three matches, defeating Challengers (42 runs), Blasters (nine wickets) and Dynamites (three runs) on Friday, Saturday and Saturday the day: Sunday in Karachi.
Shawaal Zulfiqar scored 74 off 52 balls (12 fours) and all-rounder Natalia Pervez 29 off 39 to lift the Strikers to 171 for 6 before Anusha Nasir 4 for 19 and Tuba Hasan’s 2 for 20 limited Sadia Iqbal-led 1 Challengers. Oval Academy Ground.
They suffered a crushing defeat at Muneba Ali-led Blasters the next day, chasing 119 with nine wickets and six overs to spare, with Ayman Fatima smashing 72 not out from 49 (nine fours and three sixes) and Sadaf Shamas hit 40. not out on 26 (six fours and a six) at a 104-run stand.
This young bunch showed great nerve today as they secured a three-run win, restricting Sidra Amin’s Dynamites to 89 in a low score after being put on 92 for eight. Um-e-Hani took three wickets for 18 and Seyda Aroob Shah, Pakistan’s captain in the inaugural year of the ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup, took two wickets for 17.
Dynamite were the second best team with two wins against Blasters who remained winless and Challengers whose only win came today when they beat Blasters by a stunning 96 runs thanks to Saima Malik’s five for nine front:
Former Pakistan captain and Dynamites winner Bismah Maruf scored the most runs with an average of 139 and a strike rate of 130. He stroked back-to-back half-centuries. The two Javerias, Rauf and Khan, made 134 and 109 respectively. Rauf averaged 44.67 and scored 129 runs. Khan averaged 36.33 and his strike rate was 110. The two Challengers teammates scored half-centuries each.
Saima recorded the only and best figures for nine wickets today with his five. He finished with six wickets, the joint-highest of which was with Dynamites leg-spinner Ghulam Fatima. Saima’s wicket was worth nine runs each, while Fatima averaged 10.33. Striker Anusa Nasir averaged 5.40 as she took five wickets in two matches.
The one-day leg of the Pakistan Cup Women’s cricket tournament kicks off on Tuesday with three teams – Challengers, Blasters and Dynamites – playing each other twice. The final will be played on June 4 and will be streamed live on the Pakistan Cricket Board’s official YouTube channel. All matches will be played at the State Bank Ground.