Champions beat Incredibles in Super-3 opener

Tasmia Rubab takes 3-29 as Champions chase down 138 to win by five wickets

Tuba Hassan-led Champions began the PCB Women’s Super-3 T20 Tournament with a five-wicket win over Incredibles at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad on Wednesday. 

On Thursday, Champions will take the field again against Warriors at the same venue with the first ball scheduled at 10pm PKT. 

Incredibles opted to bat first and posted 137-8 in the allotted 20 overs, which the Champions overhauled in 19.1 overs with Natalia Parvaiz and Shawaal Zulfiqar pacing the chase with 46 not out and 43, respectively. 

Left-arm pacer Tasmia Rubab gave the Champions a strong start with the new ball by taking out Gull Feroza and Eman Naseer, while she also got rid of their top-scorer Ayesha Zafar (40, 39b, 3x4s, 1x6). 

Champions’ left-arm wrist-spinner Tania Saeed was also effective in her four overs as she gave away only 15 runs removing the two set batters Omaima Sohail (29, 27b, 2x4s, 1x6) and Samiya Afsar (20, 19b, 3x4s, 1x6). 

Incredibles could not finish their innings on a strong note as they lost five for 44 towards the end. Left-arm spinner Momina Riasat picked up 1-28 in her four overs. 

In reply, Champions lost Komal Khan (11, 17b, 1x6) and Sidra Amin (8, 6b, 1x4) for low scores but Shawaal Zulfiqar kept her team well in the hunt with timely boundaries. She was run out on 43 off 29 balls having struck six fours and one six, while adding 25 runs with Natalia. 

With Shawaal departing at the juncture when Champions had 70 runs on the board, Natalia took it upon herself to keep the chase on the track. Natalia saw the back of Saira Jabeen (8, 13b) and then added 27 runs with Najiha Alvi (17, 11b, 1x4, 1x6) for the fifth wicket. 

Natalia was 46 not out off 37 balls having struck one four and two vital sixes when Champions got home. Skipper Tuba struck one four in her three-ball six. For Incredibles, Anosha Nasir picked up 2-25 and left-arm wrist-spinner Rida Aslam returned 1-24. 

Scores in brief 

Match 1 – Champions beat Incredibles by five wickets at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad 

Incredibles 137-8, 20 overs (Ayesha Zafar 40, Omaima Sohail 29, Samiya Afsar 20; Tasmia Rubab 3-29, Tania Saeed 2-15) 

Champions 141-5, 19.1 overs (Natalia Parvaiz 46 not out, Shawaal Zulfiqar 43; Anosha Nasir 2-25) 

Player of the match – Tasmia Rubab (Champions)