Sana urges batsmen to step up
Pakistan lose fourth game on the trot as Australia claim whopping 159-run win
Lone warrior: Sana was the only player to have emerged out of the Australia game with any credit, as she top-scored with 45 and also took the most wickets with three. PHOTO COURTESY: ICC
KARACHI:
Pakistan’s ICC Women World Cup campaign went from bad to worse as the Women in Green lost their fourth match on the trot — this time to defending champions and favourites Australia — and skipper Sana Mir has made no bones about what is letting the team down.
With Pakistan all but certain to not qualify for the next round, Sana — who top-scored in the Australia game with 45 — has said the blame lies firmly on the footsteps of the batsmen.
Only three Pakistani batters managed to get into double digits as the Women in Green once again crumbled under pressure.
Pakistan did threaten to cause an upset early on after Australia had won the toss and opted to bat first.
The defending champions were reduced to 7-2 inside the first six overs, with both openers back in the pavilion, but normal service resumed after that as Ellyse Perry, Elyse Villani and Alyssa Healy all scored attacking half-centuries to take Australia to a daunting 290-8.
Sana starred with the ball as well, claiming 3-49 in her 10 overs, to keep Australia within 300.
Pakistan’s top-order was unable to handle the Australian bowlers and the chase was well and truly over when Pakistan were reduced to 39-4 after 17.4 overs.
Sana’s 45 was supported by Iram’s 21 — the only other contribution of any note — as Pakistan were defeated for 131, eventually suffering an embarrassing 159-run defeat.
Skipper Sana rued some missed chances in the field, with Villani dropped on four with the game firmly in the balance at that time, and said the batsmen needed to be better in their final matches.
“We need to work a lot on our death-over bowling. Most of the innings, the bowlers were really good but the fielding did not support them,” Sana told The Express Tribune. “Missing chances like that against big teams make you realise how costly they can be.”
Sana feels the batsmen need to up the ante if Pakistan are to avoid finishing the campaign in humiliating manner. “It’s very important now. It’s been four matches and it’s important that they [the batsmen] step up now,” she said. “We’ve just got three games to go and we have to win if we are to have any chance of keeping our place in the tournament.”
Meanwhile, women’s general manager Shamsa Hashmi admitted the result was not unexpected.
“Australia are the top-performing team in the tournament, so it was obvious that Pakistan will face difficulty. Having said that, they could have at least decreased the margin they lost by,” she said.
“I hope that they win the next three matches against New Zealand, Sri Lanka and West Indies. If they manage to do so then they are still in with a shout to qualify for the semi-finals. However, they will have to work hard for that,” she added.
Pakistan’s ICC Women World Cup campaign went from bad to worse as the Women in Green lost their fourth match on the trot — this time to defending champions and favourites Australia — and skipper Sana Mir has made no bones about what is letting the team down.
With Pakistan all but certain to not qualify for the next round, Sana — who top-scored in the Australia game with 45 — has said the blame lies firmly on the footsteps of the batsmen.
Only three Pakistani batters managed to get into double digits as the Women in Green once again crumbled under pressure.
Pakistan did threaten to cause an upset early on after Australia had won the toss and opted to bat first.
The defending champions were reduced to 7-2 inside the first six overs, with both openers back in the pavilion, but normal service resumed after that as Ellyse Perry, Elyse Villani and Alyssa Healy all scored attacking half-centuries to take Australia to a daunting 290-8.
Encouraging our women in green
Sana starred with the ball as well, claiming 3-49 in her 10 overs, to keep Australia within 300.
Pakistan’s top-order was unable to handle the Australian bowlers and the chase was well and truly over when Pakistan were reduced to 39-4 after 17.4 overs.
Sana’s 45 was supported by Iram’s 21 — the only other contribution of any note — as Pakistan were defeated for 131, eventually suffering an embarrassing 159-run defeat.
Skipper Sana rued some missed chances in the field, with Villani dropped on four with the game firmly in the balance at that time, and said the batsmen needed to be better in their final matches.
“We need to work a lot on our death-over bowling. Most of the innings, the bowlers were really good but the fielding did not support them,” Sana told The Express Tribune. “Missing chances like that against big teams make you realise how costly they can be.”
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Sana feels the batsmen need to up the ante if Pakistan are to avoid finishing the campaign in humiliating manner. “It’s very important now. It’s been four matches and it’s important that they [the batsmen] step up now,” she said. “We’ve just got three games to go and we have to win if we are to have any chance of keeping our place in the tournament.”
Meanwhile, women’s general manager Shamsa Hashmi admitted the result was not unexpected.
“Australia are the top-performing team in the tournament, so it was obvious that Pakistan will face difficulty. Having said that, they could have at least decreased the margin they lost by,” she said.
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“I hope that they win the next three matches against New Zealand, Sri Lanka and West Indies. If they manage to do so then they are still in with a shout to qualify for the semi-finals. However, they will have to work hard for that,” she added.