RAWALPINDI – Lahore, Quetta and Multan registered wins in the fifth round of matches of the National Women’s T20 Tournament on Monday.
Aided by Bismah Maroof’s undefeated half-century, Lahore won a close encounter against Karachi as the former secured the game by just nine runs.
Tuba Hassan’s all-round efforts allowed Quetta a comfortable win against Peshawar.
Multan inflicted a seven-wicket defeat over Rawalpindi, on the back of a four-wicket haul by Noor-ul-Iman and an unbeaten half-century by Gull Feroza.
Karachi v Lahore:
Karachi’s captain provided an early breakthrough by dismissing opening batter Sadaf Shamas for just a run.
Syeda Aroob Shah cut short the 48-run second-wicket partnership between Sidra Amin and Bismah Maroof as the former fell for a 35-ball 41.
In the next over, captain Nida Dar was caught and bowled by Maham Manzoor after scoring 12 off 7. Iram Javed was trapped leg-before for a duck by Aroob to bring Lahore to 89-4 in 13 overs.
Wicketkeeper-batter Sidra Nawaz (13, 12b, 2x4s) was the next batter to fall, courtesy of off-spinner Rameen Shamim.
Bismah (54 not out, 47b, 6x4s) was the highest scorer for Lahore as the side ended up with 149-5 in 20 overs.
Karachi had a stuttering start to the chase with both the openers dismissed inside the powerplay.
Omaima Sohail and Yusra Amir built a 32-run third-wicket partnership to bring a semblance of stability to the chase.
Fatima and Omaima stitched a 55-run fourth-wicket stand to bring momentum to the innings. Left-arm spinner Nashra Sundhu brought an end to this partnership by rattling Fatima’s stumps, who walked back after 28 off 22.
Shortly after, Aroob (6, 4b, 1×4) was caught by Iram off Noreen Yaqoob and Ghulam Fatima trapped Omaima (46, 43b, 6x4s, 1×6) leg-before wicket.
Najiha Alvi (19 not out, 13b, 1×4, 1×6) and Huraina Sajjad (10 not out, 11b, 1×4) chipped in with some crucial runs to take Karachi close, however, the side could only manage 140-6 in 20 overs, losing by nine runs.
Quetta v Peshawar:
After being put in to bat first, Quetta posted 165-4 in the first innings after a solid start with a 72-run opening stand.
Left-arm spinner Saima Malik landed an early blow as she got Aleena out for 12 off 20, including two fours. The next batter in, Tehzeeb (1, 12b), fell victim to Tuba as Peshawar were reduced to 46-2 after 10 overs.
Momina (33, 31b, 5x4s) also fell to Tuba while Ayesha Asim got both Raahima Syed (4, 12b, 1×4) and Salwa Raheem (7, 16b, 1×4) out as trouble deepened for Peshawar.
Both Nayab Ishaq (9, 17b, 1×4) and Shabnam Hayat (5, 12b) were dismissed by Saima as Peshawar was restricted to 100-7 in 20 overs.
Rawalpindi v Multan:
Multan opted to field first after winning the toss against Rawalpindi. Two run-outs in the fourth over put Rawalpindi on the back foot.
Opening batter Aima Saleem hit 27 off 26, including four boundaries, before she was caught by Tasmia Rubab on Ayesha Bilal’s bowling. In the subsequent over, Natalia Parvaiz (4, 16b) fell victim to Asma Shareef to bring Rawalpindi down to 40-4.
Captain Aliya Riaz produced a run-a-ball 18 with three boundaries and Arijah Haseeb scored 13 from 16 including one four before both fell to Noor-ul-Iman in the same over. In her subsequent over, Noor-ul-Iman got Kainat Gulalai and Lubna Behram out cheaply as well.
The seventh batter in, Humna Bilal, contributed 26 from 20 on the back of four boundaries, until her knock was cut short courtesy of a run out by Ayesha in the last over of the innings. In the same over, Ayesha dismissed Fatima Shah as Rawalpindi’s innings ended with 110 runs on the board in 19.4 overs.
In return, Tania Saeed ran out opening batter Samina Aftab (8, 13b, 1×4) in the fourth over. Gull Feroza and Gull Rukh stitched a 51-run second-wicket partnership to counter the earlier setback.
Gull Rukh (28, 33b, 3x4s) was caught behind on Fajar Naveed’s bowling to bring an end to the partnership. Wajeeha Muneer (5, 7b), the next batter in, was stumped off Tania’s bowling
Saiqa Riaz added an unbeaten nine off nine, with one boundary. Gull Feroza, who scored an unbeaten half-century (61, 55b, 7x4s), hit winning runs on the third delivery of the last over of innings as Multan completed the target with seven wickets in the bag.
