Ayesha Zafar’s remarkable century, coupled with captain Fatima Sana’s bowling prowess, led Pakistan to a dominant victory over Zimbabwe in the opening match of their T20 International series. This match took place at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on Tuesday night.
Ayesha’s Century Dominates the T20 Opener
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Pakistan set an impressive total of 237 runs for the loss of five wickets. This score marks their highest ever in women’s T20I history. Ayesha Zafar played a pivotal role, scoring an unbeaten 102 runs off just 47 balls, which included 15 fours and two sixes. Her inning achieved a striking rate exceeding 217 and marked her first T20I century.
Strong Contributions from Teammates
- Aliya Riaz: Scored 48 runs from 23 balls, hitting four fours and four sixes.
- Gull Feroza: Started strong with 37 runs off 19 balls.
- Fatima Sana: Concluded the innings with 21 runs off 13 balls.
Despite losing wickets at regular intervals early on, Pakistan managed to reach 68 runs for the loss of three wickets within just six overs. Ayesha and Aliya formed a critical partnership that added 67 runs for the fifth wicket, bolstering the team’s total significantly.
Zimbabwe’s Struggle in the Chase
The bowling performance from Pakistan was equally impressive. Fatima Sana led the attack, taking three wickets for just seven runs in three overs, which dismantled Zimbabwe’s top order. The visiting team found themselves reeling at 16 runs for five wickets within the first five overs.
Bowling Highlights:
- Sadia Iqbal: 2 wickets
- Natalia Pervaiz: 2 wickets
- Rameen Shamim: 1 wicket
Only Natasha Mtomba provided any resistance for Zimbabwe, scoring 24 runs, while Adel Zimunu contributed 18 runs. Ultimately, Zimbabwe was bowled out for a mere 84 runs in 18.2 overs, handing Pakistan a crushing 153-run victory.
With this win, Pakistan takes a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series, showcasing their strong performance in both batting and bowling. The next match promises to be an exciting encounter as both teams look to prove their mettle.
