Islamabad - Karachi and Peshawar Green qualified for the All-Pakistan Women Invitational Twenty20 Cricket Tournament final after defeating their respective opponents in the semifinals played at the Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium.
CCPO Tahir Khan was the chief guest while organising secretary Amjad Aziz Malik, officials and others were also present on the occasion.
Karachi ousted the defending champions Mardan by 81 runs. Karachi, batting first, posted 147-4 with Najia Alivi striking 59 and Khurana Sajjad contributing 46 and Aysha Malik unbeaten 21. Sadia claimed two wickets while Samra and Yousra got one wicket each. In reply, Mardan were bundled out for paltry 67 runs. Yusra Amir clinched 4-10, Aysha 2-16 and Anusha Nasir 2-17.
In the second match, Peshawar Green defeated Peshawar White by 106 runs. Put into bat first, Peshawar Green made 136-8 with Aysha scoring 40 and Nousheen hitting 28 and Salma Faiz 11. Mahnoor Naeem claimed 3-23 while Mahnoor Aftab, Salma and Neelam got one wicket each.
In reply, Peshawar White were bowled out for just 31 runs. Only Hira (11) could cross double figures. Samreen and Hira claimed two wickets each, while Sana Liaqat, Nousheen and Kiran got one wicket each.
Speaking on this occasion, CCPO Tahir Khan lauded the organising committee for holding the tournament in which Karachi is also taking part. He said normalcy restored in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Karachi Women playing in Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium Peshawar would portray the soft image of the province.
“It is history that Karachi women cricketers are playing cricket in Peshawar and urged upon the organiser to invite other teams from different parts of the country. The tournament will also spread a message of peace to the rest of the world,” he added.
