LAHORE-Pakistan women got their ACC Women’s Asia Cup campaign back on track when they recorded their third win of the event against India women by 13 runs in Sylhet on Friday.
According to information made available here, Nida Dar led the batting charge when she smashed unbeaten 37-ball 56 to help Pakistan collect 137-6. She then claimed 2a-23 and combined with Nashra Sandhu (3-30) and Sadia Iqbal (2-24) to dismiss a formidable and in-form Indian team for 124 in 19.4 overs, which needed 18 runs off the last over.
In-form Nida clubbed five fours and a six, and put on 76 runs for the fourth wicket with Bismah Maroof after Pakistan had slipped to 33-3 after electing to bat first. Bismah was dismissed in the 16th over after hitting two fours in her 35-ball innings, but Nida carried the innings and helped Pakistan collect 26 runs off the last four overs.
Openers Muneeba Ali (17) and Sidra Amin (11) had provided a solid start when they raced to 26 for no loss in 4.2 overs, before both departed in the space of eight balls. However, Nida and Bismah, followed by a brief run-a-ball innings by Aliya Riaz and Ayesha Naseem helped Pakistan reach 137-6. The target was expected to be an easy and straightforward one for India, but Nashra, Nida and Sadia had other ideas as Indians were dismissed for 124 with two balls to spare.
Pakistan’s victory over India is also commendable after they had suffered a four-wicket defeat against Thailand on Thursday but Bismah’s side proved that defeat was nothing but a surprise and a bad day in the office for them. Pakistan now has three wins in four matches, and will play the UAE tomorrow (Sunday). Their last league match will be against Sri Lanka on October 11. The top-four sides will progress to the semifinals, while the final will be played on Oct 15.
Scores in brief
PAKISTAN 137-6, 20 overs (Nida Dar 56*, Bismah Maroof 32; Deepti Sharma 3-27, Pooja Vastrakar 2-23) beat INDIA 124 all out, 19.4 overs (Richa Ghosh 26; Nashra Sandhu 3-30, Nida Dar 2-23, Sadia Iqbal 2-24) by 13 runs.