Cricket: Sana powers ZTBL to win in T20 event opener

Captain’s all-round show helps outclass Sindh.

LAHORE: Captain Sana Mir’s all-round show helped ZTBL kick off the inaugural Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Women’s Cricket Challenge Trophy with a crushing 117-run victory over Sindh in the event’s opening fixture.

After electing to bat first, ZTBL scored a competitive 169 for five with Qanita Jalil scoring 37, Bismah Maroof contributing 36 and Mir making 23. For Sindh, Aimen Anwar finished with two for 21.

In reply, ZTBL shot out Sindh for a paltry 52 in 15 overs with Mir picking up two wickets for just three runs and bagging the player-of-the-match award. Marina Iqbal was the other star performer with the ball picking up three wickets.

Punjab win low-scoring encounter

The second match of the day saw Punjab defeating Federal Areas by 17 runs as they successfully defended a modest total of 114 in a low-scoring encounter. Ayesha Qazi was the top-scorer for Punjab with 39. In reply, Federal Areas could only muster 97 for four in their allotted overs despite Marium Hassan Shah’s 63.

Balochistan outplay Sindh

Sindh’s horrendous day with the bat continued as they lost their second match of the day to Balochistan, who romped to a comfortable seven-wicket win as they chased down their 92-run target in the 18th over.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd,  2012.