Karachi (SB Report): Fatima Sana was at her brutal best as she blazed the fastest half-century in women’s T20I internationals off just 15 balls in her fiery 19-ball 62 not out to propel Pakistan to 223-4 in 20 overs against Zimbabwe women in the third T20I here at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi on Friday night.
In turn, Left-arm spinners Sadia Iqbal (3-20) and Nashra Sundhu (2-21) shared five wickets to skittle Zimbabwe for 90 all out in 17.1 overs as Pakistan secured a 133-run win – their third largest winning margin by runs in the format.
Pakistan also concluded the first-ever white-ball bilateral series against Zimbabwe women with an emphatic manner winning all six games across the ODI and T20I series. This is only the fourth time that Pakistan has complete a series sweep in a three-match WT20I series.
Earlier, Pakistan opted to bat first and posted their second-highest total in the format and only the second total in excess of 200-run mark. The highest came in the first match of the series with the hosts posting 237-5 in the allotted 20 overs.
Fatima walked in to bat when Pakistan were 152-4 in 16.2 overs after the departure of Iram Javed (29, 20b, 2x4s, 1x6). She blazed a total of 10 fours and two sixes in an unbeaten 71-run fifth-wicket stand off just 22 balls with Saira Jabeen, who notched her maiden half-century finishing 50 not out off 32 balls on the back of eight fours.
Saira’s contribution in the breezy partnership was only seven off three as Fatima dominated the last three overs. Pakistan skipper opened her account with a boundary and didn’t look back as she struck Kudzai Chigora for five fours in the 18th over and her counterpart Nomvelo Sibanda for three fours and two sixes in the penultimate over.
Fatima made the world record for the fastest women’s T20I fifty and joint-fifth fastest in all T20Is including men’s cricket her own on the second ball of the last over taking a two off Adel Zimunu. The record was previously jointly held by Sophie Devine of New Zealand, Phoebe Litchfield of Australia and Richa Ghosh of India, who all got to the milestone off 18 balls.
At the start of the innings, player of the series Ayesha Zafar (45, 28b, 9x4s) and Muneeba Ali (22, 17b, 3x4s) put on a 58-run opening stand in 6.1 overs. Both the openers were pinned leg-before by Lindokuhle Mabhero as she finished with two for 36.
Ayesha collected 150 runs in the series including a record-breaking century in the opening match of the series along with one scalp against her name. After Natalia perished for one and Pakistan 93-2 in 10.2 overs, Saira and Iram joined forces to stitch a 59-run stand off 36 balls to steady the innings.
In reply to Pakistan’s total Zimbabwe raced to 36-1 in 2.3 overs with opening batter Kelis Ndhlovu scoring 32 off 14 balls striking six fours and one six before Sadia Iqbal struck twice in the third over to stop the visitors run flow.
Zimbabwe slipped from their powerplay score of 44-3 to 90 all out in 17.1 overs with Pakistan spinners applying the squeeze as Tuba Hassan (3-0-8-1) and Rameen Shamim (4-1-11-1) only gave away 19 runs in their seven overs combined.
Scores in brief
Pakistan 223-4, 20 overs (Fatima Sana 62 not out, Saira Jabeen 50 not out, Ayesha Zafar 45, Iram Javed 29, Muneeba Ali 22; Lindokuhle Mabhero 2-36)
Zimbabwe 90 all out, 17.1 overs (Kelis Ndhlovu 32; Sadia Iqbal 3-20, Nashra Sundhu 2-21)
Player of the match – Fatima Sana (Pakistan women)
Player of the series – Ayesha Zafar (Pakistan women)
Tour results:
1st ODI – Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 168 runs
2nd ODI – Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 206 runs
3rd ODI – Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by nine wickets
1st T20I – Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 153 runs
2nd T20I – Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 67 runs
3rd T20I – Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 133 runs
