Pakistan women win opener against Bangladesh in Ajman

The Pakistan women win on Thursday opened their Emerging Nations Trophy bid, an eight-wicket result over Bangladesh in Ajman.

Pakistan chased 109 in 15.5 overs at the Karwan Sports Club ground. They finished with 112 for two and had 25 balls to spare.

How the Pakistan women win began with the ball

Pakistan chose to bowl in the Group B match. Their attack then held Bangladesh to 108 for nine in 20 overs.

Tuba Hassan led the way with three wickets for 26 runs in four overs. Left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu took two for 13. Waheeda Akhtar, Momina Riasat and Umm-e-Hani also took one wicket each.

Bangladesh looked comfortable at 52 for two. However, they then lost five wickets for 16 runs.

Tuba started the slide when she dismissed Sharmin Akter for nine. She later removed Nigar Sultana, who made 27 off 20 balls with two fours and a six, and Ritu Moni, who scored two.

Shorna Akter resisted with an unbeaten 21 off 20 balls, which took her side past 100. Shathi Rani and another batter added 11 each, but no one else could build a partnership.

The chase

Pakistan started briskly. Shawaal Zulfiqar hit four boundaries in a 16 off six balls, then fell early.

Sadaf Shamas then steadied the innings, hitting 37 from 37 balls with four fours and a six. Pakistan reached 68 for two at the halfway point.

Captain Muneeba Ali then took charge. She stayed unbeaten on 31 off 34 balls.

Ayesha Zafar finished the job with an unbeaten 27 off 18 balls, including four boundaries. Together the pair added an unbeaten 44 for the third wicket.

Bangladesh took only two wickets. Sobhana Mostary and Shorna Akter claimed one each. Pakistan’s bowlers shared the earlier work, since five different bowlers took wickets. The chase never looked in danger after the opening overs.

The numbers behind the result

Pakistan finished on 112 for two in 15.5 overs, while Bangladesh managed 108 for nine in their full 20. The margin was eight wickets and 25 balls.

Tuba’s figures of three for 26 and Nashra’s two for 13 did most of the damage. Sadaf’s 37, Muneeba’s 31 and Ayesha’s 27 then covered the target with ease.

Bangladesh’s collapse hurt them most. From 52 for two, they lost five wickets for 16 runs, and they never recovered the pace they had early on.

What the Pakistan women win means

The result earned Pakistan two points in the ICC event. They also lead Group B after round one, with the Netherlands behind them on net run rate.

In addition, the bowling plan worked well. Tuba and Nashra broke the innings in the middle overs, and the batters did not let the chase drift.

Still, one match is a small sample. The side will need to repeat the discipline in later group games to reach the next stage.

For now, the Pakistan women win sets a confident tone. Also, the Pakistan women win gives Muneeba Ali’s squad momentum before their next group fixture.