Karachi: The second round of the National Women’s U19 Tournament saw Challengers pipping Stars by just one wicket in a thrilling contest at the Oval Academy Ground, while Conquerors handed Strikers a 58-run defeat at the National Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex on Friday.
On Saturday, the teams will rest with the third round of the tournament set to take place on Sunday with Invincibles taking on Strikers and Conquerors facing Stars.
At the Oval Academy Ground, Challengers were set a target of 96 by Stars, which they chased in 24. 5 overs with one wicket in hand. Opening batters Pakeeza Shabbir (21, 31b, 3x4s) and Esha Tir Razia (10, 22b) gave their team a 34-run start before Stars took eight for 28 to enforce a collapse.
No. 9 Maryam Ahmed (16 not out, 23b, 2x4s) and no. 10 Farya Sadaqat (15, 14b, 2x4s) then stitched a match-winning 32-run stand between them. With just two needed for the win, Stars’ pacer Barirah Saif bowled Farya but no. 11 Huba Nadeem made sure to remain not out in the two balls she faced as Challengers got over the line.
Earlier, Challengers’ skipper and player of the match Memoona Khalid’s off-spin bowling bought them four wickets as Stars innings lasted for 27. 3 overs. Qamrosh Farhan (26, 63b, 1×4) and Sawera Ramzan (25, 22b, 2x4s, 1×6) top-scored for Stars with only Afsheen Imran (12, 32b) entering the double figures with them.
Memoona’s took 20 in her five overs, while Maryam, Esha and Aleena Shah picked up a wicket each.
At the NBP Sports Complex, Conquerors were invited to bat first and they posted a strong 155-5 run total in the allotted 30 overs. Amna Shahnawaz (30, 54b, 4x4s) and Malaika Suhani (28, 37b, 5x4s) gave their team a head start with a 55-run opening stand.
While Conquerors’ no. 3 and 4 Maryam Sajjad and Noor-e-Sahar both fell to Zainab Khanum early, it was the contributions from player of the Hadia Mina (22, 30b, 1×4), wicketkeeper-batter Nasreen Ashraf (21, 20b, 4x4s) and Narjis Bibi (13 not out, 8b, 2x4s) that led Conquerors past 150-run mark.
Zainab picked up three for 25, while Adieyah Noor and Maria had a wicket each to their name. In turn, Strikers lost their top five for single digits to slip to 25-6. Adieyah (28, 77b, 4x4s) and Samia Ashraf (20, 38b, 3x4s) then put on 62 runs but in vain as Stars were dismissed for 97 in 28. 3 overs.
Hadia returned figures of 6-0-19-3, while Abeera Riazuddin and Areeqa Fatima picked up two wickets each.
Round two – Scores in brief
Match 3 – Conquerors beat Strikers by 58 runs at NBP Sports Complex, Karachi
Conquerors 155-5, 30 overs (Amna Shahnawaz 30, Malaika Suhani 28, Hadia Mina 22 not out, Nasreen Ashraf 21; Zainab Khanum 3-25)
Strikers 97 all out, 28. 3 overs (Adieyah Noor 28, Samia Ashraf 20; Hadia Mina 3-19, Abeera Riazuddin 2-13, Areeqa Fatima 2-20)
Player of the match – Hadia Mina (Conquerors)
Match 4 – Challengers beat Stars by one wicket at Oval Academy Ground, Karachi
Stars 95 all out, 27. 3 overs (Qamrosh Farhan 26, Sawera Ramzan 25; Memoona Khalid 4-20)
Challengers 96-9, 24. 5 overs (Pakeeza Shabbir 21, Maryam Ahmed 16 not out, Farya Sadaqat 15; Fizza Ameen 2-15, Rukhsar Arif 2-18)
Player of the match – Memoona Khalid (Challengers)
Sunday’s fixtures:
Invincibles v Strikers at NBP Sports Complex
Conquerors v Stars at HPC Oval Ground.
