Bismah Maroof scored 92 runs off 128 balls courtesy eight boundaries to bag her third consecutive player-of-the-match award. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/EXPRESS
Opting to bat first, Pakistan posted 214 in their allotted 50 overs as player-of-the-match Bismah smashed eight boundaries in her 128-ball 92, building a 61-run partnership with Nain Abidi, who scored 27 off 45 balls.
Bangladesh captain Salma Khatun took three wickets while Lata Mondal, Khadija Tul Kubra, Nahida Akhtar and Fahima Khatun picked up one each.
Chasing 215, Bangladesh were restricted to 194-9 as Anum Amin claimed three wickets at the expense of 24 runs while Bismah, Asmaviya Iqbal and Aliya Riaz took one wicket each, giving away 10, 27, and 29 runs respectively. Skipper Sana Mir and Nida Dar also took a wicket apiece.
Rumana Ahmed top-scored for Bangladesh with 70 runs off 97 balls.
Bismah, on getting the third player-of-the-match award said, “I am happy to perform well in front of our nation but I want other players to score in the next match as I know they have the potential to contribute towards getting a higher total.”
Pakistan skipper Sana Mir lauded her side’s efforts and urged the players to continue with their form in the next match.
On the other hand, Bangladesh captain Salma Khatun lamented the loss. “Our target was to restrict Pakistan to 150 but we couldn’t due to poor fielding,” she said, while adding that they needed to dismiss Bismah early on in the next match to prevent Pakistan from winning again.
Students praise PCB for providing transportation
The people of Karachi, specifically those who are currently undertaking their studies, appreciated the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) efforts on providing students with pick-and-drop service to watch the ongoing matches.
“We are grateful to the PCB for finally bringing international cricket back to Karachi and for providing transport,” Kainat Kazmi a first-year pre-engineering student from the Khatoon-e-Pakistan Government Girls College told The Express Tribune.
“Although the stadium is really far away, our teachers and parents both agreed to send us here as the PCB was providing secure travel, to and from the stadium,” she added.
A medical student, Aisha Muzamil, said watching the matches live had inspired her a great deal. “Despite the boundary between the fans and players, it feels like we’re part of the match,” said Aisha. “Watching young women play international cricket has made me want to pursue the game as well.”
Another 11-year old fan Fiza Saleem, while cheering for the team, had been waiting for the match to end to meet and take a picture with her favourite cricketer Sana Mir. “I have just come to meet Sana, I am really happy to see her and I’m glad I got this chance,” she said.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 5th, 2015.
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