- PCB Dynamites’ Muneeba Ali’s century goes in vain as PCB Challengers ride to win on half-centuries by Javeria Khan, Iram Javed and Sidra Amin
Karachi, 17 September 2021: A splendid 159-run stand for the first wicket between Gul Feroza and Nahida Khan helped PCB Blasters to a dominating nine-wicket win over PCB Strikers at the National Stadium in the ongoing Pakistan Cup Women’s One-Day tournament. Blasters surmounted the 184-run target with ease and comfort in 38.4 overs.
At the Oval Academy Ground, Muneeba Ali’s 117 was shadowed by half-centuries by Sidra Amin, PCB Challengers’ captain Javeria Khan and Iram Javed as PCB Dynamites lost by five wickets. This was Challengers fifth consecutive win and they have already qualified for the 21 September day-night final at the National Stadium.
Blasters’ Gul was the top-scorer of the innings as she struck 85 off 104 balls, which included 11 fours, and Nahida scored her third half-century of the tournament with an unbeaten 107-ball 79, hitting eight fours. Both batters shared the player of the match award.
Kainat Imtiaz’s Strikers were bowled out in 48.1 overs after opposite captain Sidra Nawaz elected to field after calling the toss correctly.
Strikers’ Jaweria Rauf, who registered a half-century with an 88-ball 58, and Hafsa Khalid (31 off 65) added 75 runs for the second wicket, after Ayesha Zafar was removed by Nida Dar early in the innings.
The other notable contribution with the bat came from Natalia Pervaiz, who made 32 off 38.
Seven wickets were shared between off-spinners Omaima Sohail and Nida. Omaima took four wickets for 24 runs, while Nida returned three for 31.
Pacer Fatima Sana dismissed Ayesha Naseem and Umm-e-Hani.
Muneeba, the Dynamites captain, elected to bat after winning the toss and subsequently stitched partnerships of 59 and 145 with Sadaf Shamas (36 off 43) and Aliya Riaz, who made 72 off 106 balls, hitting four fours and a six, which helped Dynamites to post 240 for six in 50 overs.
Muneeba smashed seven fours and four sixes in her 141-ball stay, which was ended via stumping off Dua Majid’s bowling. This was the first century of the tournament.
Dua and Saba Nazir equally shared six wickets.
The run-chase was anchored by a brilliant 111-run stand between Sidra and Javeria, who made 80 in the last match, and was the leading run-scorer in the innings with 83 off 95, which included eight fours.
Sidra scored 50 off 79 and Iram smashed 58 not out off 60 (seven fours).
The player of the match award was shared by the two captains – Muneeba and Javeria.
Scores in brief:
PCB Blasters beat PCB Strikers by nine wickets at National Stadium
PCB Strikers 183 all out, 48.1 overs (Jaweria Rauf 58, Natalia Pervaiz 32, Hafsa Khalid 31; Omaima Sohail 4-24, Nida Dar 3-31, Fatima Sana 2-40)
PCB Blasters 187-1, 38.4 overs (Gul Feroza 85, Nahida Khan 79 not out)
Player of the match – Gul Feroza and Nahida Khan (both PCB Blasters)
PCB Challengers beat PCB Dynamites by five wickets at Oval Academy Ground
PCB Dynamites 240-6, 50 overs (Muneeba Ali 117, Aliya Riaz 72, Sadaf Shamas 36; Dua Majid 3-55, Saba Nazir 3-58)
PCB Challengers 243-5, 48.3 overs (Javeria Khan 83, Iram Javed 58 not out, Sidra Amin 50, Dua Majid 24)
Player of the match – Muneeba Ali (PCB Dynamites) and Javeria Khan (PCB Challengers)
