Pakistan Women thrash Ireland by 9 wickets

Maroof stars with bat and ball to lead thumping win.

KARACHI:

Bismah Maroof tore through Ireland’s batting line-up to set up a convincing nine-wicket win for Pakistan Women in their Women’s Quadrangular Series match in Colombo.

Maroof grabbed four for seven in just 25 deliveries as Ireland Women, sitting comfortably at 37 for two at one stage, crashed to 68 all out. She then shared an unbroken 53-run partnership with Javeria Khan to steer her side past the target in just the 14th over to seal the thrashing.

Javeria remained unbeaten on 47 after her opening partner Nida Dar was dismissed for seven.

Earlier, Ireland Women lost five wickets for just 18 runs as only two batters manage to get into double figures. Laura Delany top-scored with 20 and Claire Shillington scored 19 but the rest of the team failed to provide any sort of support.

In the end, the total proved too easy for Pakistan.



Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2011.