On Tuesday, Pakistan women registered a convincing victory over Zimbabwe Women in the first game of the series. They defeated the home team by a huge margin of 178 runs.
Javeria Khan, the captain led from the front and top-scored with 81 off 116 runs. This was his 26th half-century in the format. She along with Aliya Riaz added 157 runs for the fifth wicket as Pakistan finished the innings on 255 for 6. Aliya, who is in the form of her life scored 74 off 87 balls. Her innings included six boundaries and one towering six.
Javeria has been the backbone of Pakistan Women team for over a decade now. A veteran of over 100 T20Is and ODI’s she has shown time and time again that she is a selfless player.
Before the start of the T20 series against South Africa, she dislocated her right index finger and missed the first two T20’s against. Pakistan lost both the games with heavy margins. But came back in the third to lead her team to a win. She scored unbeaten 56 off 50 balls and also kept the innings together. With rain reducing the match, South Africa was in advantage as they but Javeria marshalled her troops admirably to sneak out a win.
Javeria and Aliya came together with the scorecard reading 82 for four after 18.3 overs after Nida Dar was trapped in front of stumps by off-spinner Tasmeen Granger.
Pakistan lost both openers early as Muneeba Ali went for just four while Ayesha Zafar scored 14. Omaima and Javeria were looking good for a partnership before a mix-up in the middle ended Omaima innings on 29.
Pakistan bowlers completely dominated the second half of the match, denying any run scoring opportunities to the hosts.
The opening spells of Diana Baig and 19-year-old Fatima Sana brought three wickets for 36 runs as the two bowled seven overs for one for 16, including a maiden, and six overs for two for 16, respectively.
Nida’s impeccable bowling further aggravated the situation for the hosts as her off-spin accounted for wicketkeeper-batter Modester Mupachikwa and Josephine Nkomo. She ended-up with match figures of two for nine runs in seven overs, which included three maidens.
Nashra Sandhu dismissed Pellagia Mujaji, the highest run-getter for Zimbabwe in the match with 16 off 40 balls which left the hosts reeling at 44 for six by the end of the 21st over.
The hosts were bowled out for 77 in the 35th over. Javeria for her match-winning innings was named the best player-of-the-match.
