Karachi (GNP): First T20 International of a three-match cricket series, Pakistan Women beat Zimbabwe Women by 153 runs.
Ayesha Zafar struck an unbeaten 47-ball 102 not out to lead Pakistan to 237-5 in 20 overs, their highest-ever total in WT20Is, as the hosts thumped Zimbabwe in the opening match of the three-game T20I series by a record margin of 153 runs here at the National Bank Stadium.
Zimbabwe were bundled out for 84 in 18.2 overs in reply to Pakistan’s mammoth total with skipper Fatima Sana leading the charge with miserly figures of 3-0-7-3 including an early double strike in the third over, while Sadia Iqbal and Natalia Parvaiz also chipped in with two wickets each.
It is Pakistan’s largest winning margin by runs overtaking their 147-run thumping of Malaysia in 2018 in Kuala Lumpur. The second and third T20Is of the series will take place on 14 and 15 April at the National Bank Stadium with the first ball scheduled to be bowled at 7.30pm PKT.
Ayesha Zafar walked in to bat in the second over after Pakistan lost Muneeba Ali to Nomvelo Sibanda for two with 23 runs on the board. Ayesha and Gull Feroza (37, 19b, 8x4s) then shared a 34-run stand off 16 balls to set the foundation of the big total.
Zimbabwe removed Gull and debutant Saira Jabeen, who became the 59th WT20I cap for Pakistan, in a space of six balls to reduce Pakistan to 68-3 in 5.4 overs. Pakistan were 101-4 in 10 overs after Natalia’s departure, which brought Aliya Riaz to the middle.
That Pakistan were able to ransack 136 runs off the last 60 balls in their innings was due to Ayesha Zafar‘s 35-ball 67-run stand with Aliya (48, 23b, 4x4s, 4x6s) and then a fiery unbeaten 27-ball 70-run partnership with captain Fatima (21 not out, 13b, 3x4s).
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Ayesha’s 47-ball unbeaten century, the fastest besides Muneeba Ali’s two centuries in the format for Pakistan and joint-third fastest overall, came after she accelerated brilliantly in the last three overs of the innings, going from 67 off 38 to 102 unscathed. Ayesha was on 90 with three balls left in the innings when she struck Sibanda for a six, a double and a memorable four on the last ball to bring up her first international century in style.
Pakistan’s total is also the third-highest WT20I score by a full member nation in the format, besides Bangladesh’s 255-2 in 2019 against Maldives and England’s 250-3 in 2018 against South Africa. Meanwhile, Ayesha’s 15 fours and two sixes are the most boundaries by a Pakistan batter in WT20Is to go with 37 boundaries overall in an innings, the most by hosts in the format as well.
Scores in brief in WT20I
Pakistan 237-5, 20 overs (Ayesha Zafar 102 not out, Aliya Riaz 48, Gull Feroza 37, Fatima Sana 21 not out; Nomvelo Sibanda 2-59)
1st T20I, Pakistan Women beat Zimbabwe Women by 153 runs at National Bank Stadium, Karachi. Pakistan Women produced a dominant all-round performance, posting a massive total on the back of Ayesha Zafar’s superb century before their bowlers dismantled Zimbabwe’s batting lineup with clinical precision. The victory gave Pakistan a commanding 1-0 lead in the series.
Zimbabwe 84 all out, 18.2 overs (Natasha Mtomba 24; Fatima Sana 3-7, Natalia Parvaiz 2-3, Sadia Iqbal 2-14)
Player of the Match: Ayesha Zafar (Pakistan Women) — awarded for her outstanding unbeaten century of 102 runs that laid the foundation for Pakistan’s commanding total and ultimately steered her side to a convincing victory.
