Women’s Twenty20 Asia Cup: Pakistan to lock horns with India in final

Teams to vie for ACC Twenty20 Asia Cup title today.

Pakistan Women will face their Indian counterparts in the Asian Cricket Council Women’s Twenty20 Asia Cup final today after prevailing over Bangladesh Women by six wickets in the last-four encounter at the Guanggong International Cricket Stadium.

Nida Dar and Bismah Maroof shone with all-round performances, the duo first claiming two wickets apiece in Bangladesh’s paltry total of 82 for seven before chipping in with useful contributions with the bat to take her team past the finish line in the 18th over.

Put into bat, Bangladesh were off to a steady start. They lost the first wicket in the eighth over but with just 24 on the board. However, in a bid to accelerate, Bangladesh lost their way with only opener Farzana Haque offering resistance with a 44-ball 28.

Shukhtara Rahman contributed 16 towards the end to take Bangladesh past the 80-run mark but the total was not enough. Dar finished with two for 13 off four overs, while Maroof took two for nine in two overs. Captain Sana Mir and Sadia Yousaf claimed a wicket each.

In reply, Pakistan lost opener Qanita Jalil early but Maroof and Dar put on a 44-run partnership to bat Bangladesh out of the game.

Pakistan, who won two out of three matches in the opening round, had earlier got the better of Hong Kong and Thailand before going down to India in the final match of Group A.

The other semi-final between India and Sri Lanka was abandoned without a ball being bowled with the former going through on the basis of topping their group.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31^st, 2012.