ZTBL crowned women’s T20 champions

Punjab defeated in final, Dar bags player-of-the-tournament award

LAHORE:

ZTBL lived up to their pre-tournament favourites’ tag as they thrashed Punjab by 93 runs to lift the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Women Cricket T20 Challenge Trophy 2012 in Lahore.

Opting to bat first, ZTBL, comprising national team players, amassed 174 for four. Nida Dar hit a whirlwind 47-ball 64, an innings that included nine hits to the fence. In reply, Punjab could only muster 81 for five.

Dar was well-supported by Qanita Jalil, who hit 50 off just 37 deliveries, as ZTBL created panic in the Punjab camp. ZTBL and Pakistan captain Sana Mir picked up two for 12 to restrict Punjab but Dar was named player of the match and also bagged the player-of-the-tournament award.

Mir, whose team won the Rs100,000 prize-money, appreciated the efforts of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in holding the event.

“Credit goes to the chairman who gave the idea of such a tournament back in 2009 and then made it happen as soon as he took office,” said Mir. “Female players get huge exposure from such tournaments since a lot of people came to watch us play. Some players were playing such an event for the first time and the exposure will help their confidence level and that’s good for the future of Pakistan cricket. I hope more events are held so that we can become competitive for the international tournaments as well.”

Meanwhile, Punjab captain Sana Gulraz praised her team for reaching the final in the six-team tournament.

“The team played well to reach the final,” said Gulraz. “But we should take responsibility for not winning the tournament. ZTBL played really well but I think we weren’t up to the mark in making this final a more competitive one.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25^th, 2012.