Sports Bulletin

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-Defending champions England held on to beat New Zealand by one wicket to keep their ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 hopes alive while all but ending the hosts’ hopes of making the semi-finals. New Zealand posted a below-par 203, losing their final eight wickets for 69 as Maddy Green ran out of partners on 52 not out. Injuries to Sophie Devine and Lea Tahuhu left the White Ferns without two senior players but their bowlers stepped up to push England all the way before Anya Shrubsole hit the winning runs. New Zealand were quick off the mark, benefitting from more wayward bowling by England’s opening seamers Katherine Brunt and Shrubsole as they reached 52 without loss by the end of the powerplay. Suzie Bates then departed for 22 from 36 balls as Kate Cross picked up her first wicket, the opener misdirecting a looping ball to Tammy Beaumont before Devine retired hurt on 37 from 42 balls with a back injury. England capitalised on that good fortune with runs hard to come by, Cross delivering the first maiden of the day. Spinner Charlie Dean continued her fine form as she got the wicket of Amelia Kerr, who had to go for 24 from 38 after Shrubsole held onto a catch at fine leg to leave New Zealand on 96 for two. After taking four wickets in the win over India, off-spinner Dean proved the difference again after breaking Amy Satterthwaite and Maddy Green’s promising partnership on 38. The 21-year-old trapped Satterthwaite LBW for 24 from 42, a review showing the ball just clipping the bails. Green’s fifty compensated for her running out Brooke Halliday as Nat Sciver’s fine fielding forced a breakthrough that sparked a collapse which saw New Zealand lose six wickets for 47 runs. Katey Martin went LBW before Tahuhu fell for a duck thanks to a fabulous one-handed catch from captain Heather Knight. Devine returned to the field but only added four runs to her total before holing out to Dean at long-on to leave New Zealand on 161 for seven with 10 overs remaining. Frances Mackay became the third LBW dismissal of the day when she was given out on review after making just one run. When Hannah Rowe went for five her side were 184 for nine and in danger of not making 200. Jess Kerr showed some late attacking intent until a miscommunication between her and Green saw her run out to bring the innings to a close on 203 with New Zealand failing to bat out their overs. England’s opening partnership had only put on 17 runs when Danni Wyatt was dismissed by a great take from Rowe who stretched out her arms as the ball flew over her head. Tahuhu finally got her length right off the final ball of her first over to dismiss Beaumont for 25 and leave England on 53 for two at the end of the powerplay. That scalp made Tahuhu the highest wicket-taker for New Zealand in ODIs with 93, surpassing Aimee Watkins, but she then added to her side’s injury worries, with Devine unable to field, after being forced off with a hamstring issue. Knight built steadily with Sciver, always keeping England above the DLS par score with rain around, until she was given out LBW off the bowling of Mackay for 42. Halliday then took her maiden international wicket to dismiss Amy Jones for one from five balls when the wicketkeeper-batter sent the ball straight to stand-in captain Satterthwaite at mid-wicket. Sciver was joined by Sophia Dunkley and the pair patiently brough up their half-century stand off 64 balls as England moved within 50 of victory. But when Dunkley was clean-bowled by Mackay for 33 it sparked a collapse of five for 20 that almost cost them the game. Sciver was then dismissed by Jess Kerr for 61 to leave England on 187 for six with 6.4 overs remaining. Ecclestone went without scoring before Cross was given out LBW as Mackay earned career-best figures of 4-34, England slipping to 194 for eight. Brunt’s despairing dive failed to save her from being run out with eight still needed and New Zealand needing just one wicket to snatch victory. However, Shrubsole would get the job done, taking the time that her predecessors had failed to, before celebrating wildly as England just about held their nerve. England beat New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland by one wicket New Zealand 203 in 48.5 overs (Maddy Green 52 not out, Sophie Devine 41; Kate Cross 3/35, Sophie Ecclestone 3/41) England 204/9 in 47.2 overs (Nat Sciver 61, Heather Knight 42; Frances Mackay 4/34 , Jess Kerr 2/36) Player of the Match: Nat Sciver (England) 

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-The West Indies recovered from a batting collapse to defeat Bangladesh by just four runs in Tauranga as the two sides played out a rollercoaster first ODI meeting of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022. A defiant unbeaten 53 from Shemaine Campbelle saw the Windies recover from 70 for seven to post 140 as Bangladesh’s spinners suffocated the middle order. Afy Fletcher brought the West Indies back as she helped to reduce the opposition to 60 for five but Bangladesh battled back to take the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 league match to the final over before falling just short.  Deandra Dottin was the first to fall for 17 when she was caught behind off the bowling of Jahanara Alam who celebrated jubilantly before captain Nigar Sultana took a fantastic catch above her head to dismiss the other opener Hayley Matthews for 18. That gave Nahida Akter a wicket off her first ball before she conceded her first boundary to Rashada Williams, ominously it would be the last for 20 overs as Bangladesh turned the screw. Chedean Nation was run out for six off 37 balls thanks to a direct hit from Fargana before more maidens and wickets followed. Aaliyah Alleyne departed for a 12-ball duck, a review unable to save her from being given out LBW The pressure was temporarily eased when Campbelle sent a full and wide delivery for four, the first boundary for 124 balls, but Chinelle Henry was caught and bowled by Salma Khatun for a duck. Campbelle remained with 14 from 63 balls but it appeared that she may run out of partners with the West Indies on 70 for seven with 14.3 overs left. However, she shared a 32-run partnership with Fletcher, the pair rotating the strike well. Fletcher departed for 17 from 28 balls as Fahima Khatun got her hands to a low catch for Ritu Moni’s first wicket. While Salma safely negotiated the hat-trick ball, Bangladesh had slipped to 60 for five and Matthews then swung the game further towards the West Indies with her own double-wicket over. Nigar was out LBW for 25 from 77 before Fahima was bowled with a peach of a delivery, one of five ducks in the innings, as Matthews ended her ten overs with a career-best four for 15. Salma was dropped twice as she anchored Bangladesh’s resistance, but skipper Taylor saw the back of her for 23 to leave Bangladesh needing 31 off 41 with two wickets remaining. There was a break in play as Shamilia Connell received treatment after collapsing before being helped from the field, and when the action resumed Nahida put Bangladesh within touching distance before Fariha Trisna chopped on off Taylor as the West Indies became the first side to defend 140 or less in five years. Scores in brief West Indies beat Bangladesh at Bay Oval, Tauranga by four runs West Indies 140/9 in 50.0 overs (Shemaine Campbelle 53 not out, Hayley Matthews 18; Salma Khatun 2/23, Nahida Akter 2/23) Bangladesh 136 all out in 49.3 overs (Nahida Akter 25 not out, Nigar Sultana 25; Hayley Matthews 4/15, Afy Fletcher 3/29, Stafanie Taylor 3/29) Player of the Match: Hayley Matthews (West Indies)

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-Australia continued their imperious form at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 with a seven-wicket win over the West Indies in Wellington on Tuesday. The West Indies were bundled out for 131 as Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner took three wickets each, with captain Stafanie Taylor’s fifty the bright spot of the innings for the West Indies. Perry opened the bowling after the Windies chose to bat and picked up where she left off against New Zealand, dismissing Hayley Matthews, then the leading run-scorer in the competition, for a four-ball duck before Kycia Knight went the very next ball to leave the West Indies on four for two. Campbelle was eventually dismissed for 20 from 51 balls as Gardner claimed her first wicket of the day, with the all-rounder miscuing straight to midwicket as Beth Mooney took the catch. Gardner had her second before the 23rd over as she bowled Chedean Nation for the third duck of the innings. Taylor continued to provide resistance – despite runs being hard to come by against a disciplined bowling attack - but she found herself in need of a partner as Chinelle Henry and Aaliyah Alleyne both fell for 10. Taylor edged her way to her half-century – her 37th ODI fifty – hitting three fours before a drive to cover brought up the milestone with a two. But she was unable to add another run to the West Indies total as Gardner earned her third wicket, a review unable to save Taylor from the leg-before wicket call as she went for 50 from 91 balls. Gardner’s fine performance came to an end with ODI-best figures of three for 25 from her 10 overs, before Jess Jonassen got in on the wicket-taking, dismissing Shakera Selman for six – the off-spinner deceiving her with pace on the ball. The West Indies’ innings would end on 131 as ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup debutant Karishma Ramharack was caught at deep mid-wicket, Jonassen again impressing at the death. With only half the innings gone, Australia needed just 32 runs to win and the West Indies’ day got worse as Shamilia Connell hobbled off after injuring her hip while fielding. Haynes would get the winning runs to end on 83 not out as Australia chased down 132 with 118 balls to spare. Scores in brief Australia beat West Indies at Basin Reserve, Wellington by seven wickets West Indies 131 all out, 45.5 overs (Stafanie Taylor 50,; Ellyse Perry 3/22, Ashleigh Gardner 3/25) Australia 132/3, 30.2 overs (Rachael Haynes 83 not out, Beth Mooney 28 not out) Player of the Match: Ellyse Perry (Australia)

Sports Bulletin Report HAMLITON:-Bangladesh secured their first-ever ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup win as Fargana Hoque’s patient 71 steered them to a historic nine-run victory over Pakistan. The batter anchored the Tigresses to 234 for seven before Fahima Khatun took three late wickets to help restrict Pakistan to 225 for nine, despite Sidra Amin’s superb 104. Pakistan struggled to keep up with the required run-rate and lost regular wickets during the final 10 overs, just as they were looking to up the tempo, and never looked favourites to win. They remain without an ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup victory in 13 years, while Bangladesh celebrated a major milestone in their development after an impressive all-round display. With batting second the favoured option in Hamilton, it was advantage Pakistan, as they won the toss and elected to field. Shamima Sultana was the first batter to fall in the ninth over as she hit Nida Dar straight to midwicket for 17, bringing Fargana to the crease. The Tigresses finished the powerplay on 51 for one, with Sharmin Akhter on a run-a-ball 29, but some miserly bowling from Pakistan slowed her down before she gloved an Omaima Sohail delivery back onto her own stumps for 44. That left Bangladesh on 79 for two at the beginning of the 20th over, with Fargana on just eight off 32 deliveries and knowing she now had to step up and anchor the innings. Fortunately for Bangladesh, she did just that. While miserly Pakistan bowling restricted Bangladesh, Fargana hit a much-needed boundary mid-way through the 25th over as they reached the halfway stage at 92 for two. Sensing her moment, the No.3 smacked Fatima Sana for successive boundaries at the beginning of the 31st, while she then had an LBW decision overturned after initially being given out. With Nigar Sultana brilliant at finding ones and twos and Pakistan struggling for wickets, Bangladesh worked their way into a promising position as Fargana brought up her ninth ODI half-century off 89 balls. Nigar (46) fell in the 40th over after a busy 64-ball innings that brought just one boundary and her replacement, Rumana Ahmed, upped the tempo alongside Fargana. Successive boundaries helped Bangladesh past 200 in the 44th over but Rumana’s 13-ball cameo ended in the next as she holed out off Nashra Sundhu. The same bowler also removed Fargana two overs later by finding the edge of her bat for 71 and then trapped Fahima Khatun LBW with the very next ball. Salma Khatun was forced to block the hat-trick ball, while some clever running through the rest of the innings helped Bangladesh to their highest-ever women’s ODI score. Pakistan made a promising start in reply, with Sidra and Nahida Khan at the top of the order. They reached 46 for no loss at the end of the powerplay and then brought up the 50 partnership in the 13th. The breakthrough came in the 24th over, as Nahida chopped a Rumana delivery onto her own stumps for 43, ending a promising 91-run stand. Sidra was then dropped twice in the space of three overs, including a simple chance at point from a thick edge, but Pakistan’s main concern was an increasing run-rate which had creeped to over six. They reached the final 10 overs requiring 67 with eight wickets in hand and when they scored 11 off the 41st over, it looked like the game would go down to the wire. But Sidra was soon running out of partners, as Omaima went for 10 and Nida Dar for a first-ball duck, while the 44th over proved a key turning point. Fahima Khatun took two wickets in two balls to remove Aliya Riaz and Fatima Sana, before Sidra Nawaz was run out for just one to leave Pakistan on 188 for seven. Sidra Amin brought up her maiden ODI century shortly after but was run out for 104 in the 48th and though Pakistan needed 16 to win off the last, they fell nine runs short. Scores in brief Bangladesh beat Pakistan at Seddon Park, Hamilton by nine runs Bangladesh 234/7 in 50 overs (Fargana Hoque 71, Nigar Sultana 46, Sharmin Akhter 44; Nashra Sundhu 3/41) Pakistan 225/9 in 50 overs (Sidra Ameen 104, Nahida Khan 43; Fahima Khatun 3/38, Rumana Ahmed 2/29).

Sports Bulletin Report WELLINGTON:-Australia beat hosts New Zealand by 141 runs in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 fixture at Basin Reserve, Wellington on Sunday. Hosts New Zealand won the toss and elected to field but did not take their first wicket until the final ball of the powerplay, as Alyssa Healy’s attempted pull shot found Amelia Kerr at midwicket. Fielder Katey Martin then got into action in her 100th ODI, taking the catch to dismiss Meg Lanning, before opener Rachael Haynes fell four balls later to Lea Tahuhu to leave Australia in a spot of bother at 56 for three. Beth Mooney joined Perry at the crease and the pair targeted seamer Hayley Jensen for runs, steering their side to 97 for three at the half-way mark - but boundaries were often few and far between. Just as it looked like the partnership was starting to develop, Mooney chopped on off the bowling of Jess Kerr for 30 from 44 balls. McGrath joined Perry and the two rotated the strike masterfully, bringing up their 50-run partnership with the final ball of the 40th over. And then Australia really kicked into gear, putting on more than 100 runs in the final 10 overs for a second time at this World Cup with Jensen again the initial target, being taken all around the ground for 20 off one over. Maddy Green provided the something special needed to end the partnership, as she ran round to her left and made a leaping catch to dismiss Perry for an 86-ball 68 off the bowling off Tahuhu. Unfortunately for New Zealand, that was the beginning of Australia’s assault, as Gardner, only recently out of Covid isolation, got off the mark with a four. McGrath fell for 57 but Gardner just kept going and finished the innings with a six to reach 48 from only 18 balls to set New Zealand 270 to win. In blustery Wellington, New Zealand had the wind firmly knocked out of their sails as teenage sensation Darcie Brown combined with Perry to rip through the top order. Devine was out for run-a-ball six and Amelia Kerr only scored one in her 50th ODI, as Mooney took a stunning catch at slip. New Zealand were frustrated and Suzie Bates showed it by sending up a high but comfortable catch to McGrath at midwicket. The home side had slipped to 24 for three and things went from bad to worse, as Green went for three by sending an edge to Healy behind the stumps. Frances Mackay made just one as she was given out LBW off the bowling of Brown to leave the hosts on 35 for five before the experience of Amy Satterthwaite and Martin temporarily settled nerves. But Amanda-Jade Wellington took two wickets in two balls, first trapping Martin LBW and then tempting Jensen into a stroke that was caught at cover. Wellington had to wait another over for her hat-trick ball, which Satterthwaite safely defended, but wickets continued to fall and Hannah Rowe went back to the pavilion for just six. Out came Tahuhu to join her wife Satterthwaite and the pair put on a 35-run partnership before Lanning took a fine catch to dismiss Satterthwaite for 44. Tahuhu was the final wicket to fall two overs later as Australia earned a mammoth win to take a big step towards the semi-finals. Scores in brief: Australia beat New Zealand at Basin Reserve, Wellington by 141 runs Australia 269/8 in 50.0 overs (Ellyse Perry 68, Tahlia McGrath 57; Lea Tahuhu 3/53, Frances Mackay 1/34) New Zealand 128 all out in 30.2 overs (Amy Satterthwaite 44, Lea Tahuhu 23; Darcie Brown 3/22, Ashleigh Gardner 2/15) Player of the Match: Ellyse Perry (Australia)

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-Indian medium-pacer Jhulan Goswami became the most successful bowler in ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup history as she dismissed Anisa Mohammed for her 40th wicket at the tournament. Almost exactly 17 years ago Goswami took her first World Cup wicket, dismissing Inoka Galagedara of Sri Lanka on 22 March 2005. Since then, she has dismissed 40 different batters, never getting the same batter out twice at a World Cup, with Mohammed her seventh West Indian victim. Goswami surpassed Australian Lyn Fullston who held the previous record since 1988, her 39 wickets coming at an average of 11.94. That first wicket back in 2005 may have been the only scalp she took in her debut World Cup match, but it was the first and only time she would ended with an economy lower than one. Goswami produced figures of eight overs, three maidens, five runs and one wicket, and she was just getting started, taking 13 wickets in the tournament in South Africa, her highest at a single World Cup. The 2009 World Cup was less fruitful, taking just four wickets but her best performance came against hosts Australia in the third-place play off, dismissing opener Leah Poulton and tailender Rene Farrell for figures of two for 21 as India won by three wickets. After taking nine wickets on home soil in 2013, Goswami was back in the double figures in 2017 as India lost out to England by nine runs in the final. The 39-year-old took three for 23, one of two times where she has taken three wickets in an innings to move to 10 for the tournament. Her highest wicket haul came in 2005 as she produced figures of four for 16 against the West Indies only four days after delivering four for 27 against England. Goswami has lined up eight ducks across her 40 dismissals with 14 wickets bowled, including the first. Mohammed’s dismissal takes Goswami to 14 dismissals caught by fielders while seven have been caught by the wicket-keeper with five coming leg before wicket. Fortunately for India, usually if Goswami is taking wickets, they will win the game with 27 of her previous 39 wickets coming in wins, 11 in losses and 1 in a no-result, that very first wicket.

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-Mandhana and Kaur’s 184-run partnership saw India set the West Indies an ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup record chase of 318 in ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 at Seddon Park, Hamilton. Deandra Dottin looked set to steer West Indies all the way, guiding her side to 100 in 12 overs, only for her dismissal to start an unrecoverable collapse. Jhulan Goswami dismissed Anisa Mohammed to become the leading wicket-taker in World Cups with her 40th scalp as India sealed victory. India won the toss and chose to bat, meaning previously unbeaten West Indies would have to chase for the first time in the World Cup. Yastika Bhatia made a fast start to the innings taking Chinelle Henry for three fours off the second over before dynamic fielding from Dottin saved more boundaries. Shamilia Connell would also be taken round the ground before Shakera Selman came in and got the first wicket, catching Bhatia off her own bowling for 31 from 21. Mithali Raj, captaining in a World Cup record 24th game, came out to join Mandhana but could only make five from 11 before being caught by Connell to leave India on 62 for two at the end of the powerplay. Deepti Sharma was the next batter to make a start before being dismissed, but she could be forgiven as Hayley Matthews took a stunning, stretching catch at slip as she departed for 15. Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur were unfazed, the former’s half-century brought up from 66 balls to earn her 22nd fifty in ODI cricket. The duo brought up their hundred partnership off a Selman no-ball, a fourth 100-run fourth-wicket partnership for India in World Cups, with Kaur part of three of them. The next delivery would bring another milestone as Kaur’s 50 came from 61 balls, her first back-to-back ODI half-centuries since the last World Cup in 2017. Mandhana was put down by Aaliyah Alleyne on 94 before bringing up her hundred from 108 balls with a four as the 150 partnership was also reached. She would have to go for 123 from 119 balls as Selman held on to a catch in the deep as Connell picked up her first wicket in her final over. Kaur would bring up a century at a third successive World Cup before sending a tame outside edge to Shemaine Campbelle behind the stumps, India slipping to 313 for seven after Pooja Vastrakar and Richa Ghosh were dismissed cheaply. India ended on 317 for eight, their first-ever 300-plus total in World Cup cricket, with Dottin clearly in pain bowling the final over. The West Indies came out undaunted despite Dottin’s clear discomfort, crashing 50 in the first five overs. With the hundred raised just seven overs later, but after Dottin had taken treatment on the field, her innings came to an end, making 62 of just 46 balls with 10 fours and a six. Kycia Knight and Stafanie Taylor fell cheaply to leave the Maroon Warriors on 112 for three, with opener Matthews dismissed for 43 from 36 balls, her disappointed reaction telling you everything you need to know, their chance had gone. Campbelle and Henry would soon follow as the life was suffocated out of what had been a rip-roaring chase by the West Indies. Chedean Nation had helped steady the West Indies against England but chasing a record total was an altogether different prospect. With Nation looking for quick runs, Alleyne had to go run out chasing a second thanks to sharp throwing from Rajeshwari Gayakwad who formed a potent spin partnership with Sneh Rana. Mohammed then played a patient game taking fourteen balls to get off nought as the Windies delayed the inevitable. She then became Goswami’s 40th victim at a World Cup as she was caught going for a mistimed heave before the West Indies were bowled out for 162 as Rana took the winning catch off her own bowling. Scores in brief India beat West Indies at Seddon Park, Hamilton by 155 runs India 317/8 in 50.0 overs (Smriti Mandhana 123, Harmanpreet Kaur 109; Anisa Mohammed 2/59; Aaliyah Alleyne 1/26) West Indies 162 all out in 40.3 overs (Deandra Dottin 62, Hayley Matthews 43; Sneh Rana 3/22, Meghna Singh 2/27) Player of the Match: Smriti Mandhana (India)

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-South Africa sealed a dramatic six-run win to deny Pakistan a first ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup win in 17 games. South Africa’s slow start was rescued by Laura Wolvaardt, whose 75 runs was her highest score in a World Cup, but the Proteas could still only set Pakistan a below-par 224 to win. Pakistan built healthy partnerships but fell way behind the run rate thanks to disciplined bowling and they fell agonisingly short despite all-rounder Nida Dar’s fine 55. Lizelle Lee’s return to the South Africa side lasted only seven balls before she was expertly caught behind by Sidra Nawaz. Sidra would take another fine diving catch as Tazmin Brits was dismissed for two runs to leave South Africa on 21 for two, her move down the order not paying off. Her former opening partner Wolvaardt made steady progress to her eighth 40-plus score in nine World Cup innings. It wasn’t all plain sailing for Wolvaardt and South Africa however, the Proteas reaching just 65 for two in the first 20 overs before back-to-back boundaries off Ghulam Fatima saw the 22-year-old move to 56 from 76 balls. Ghulam would get her revenge as Wolvaardt had to go, caught and bowled for 75 off 91 balls as Ghulam earned a wicket on her return to the ODI side after five years in the wilderness. Mignon du Preez would fall for a duck in the same over as Omaima Sohail pulled out another diving catch to add to Pakistan’s highlight reel. Marizanne Kapp could only hold her head in her hands as she sent the ball straight to Sidra Ameen as Ghulam took another and South Africa slipped to 120 for five. Having survived two reviews for lbw earlier in the innings, Sune Luss showed restraint as she and her vice-captain Chloe Tryon added 55 for the sixth wicket before Tryon departed softly for 31 as she was caught and bowled by Nashra Sundhu. It was third time lucky for Pakistan as Luus was finally dismissed lbw but not before scoring 62 from 102 balls. It was then Fatima Sana’s turn to take two in an over, dismissing Shabnim Ismail and Trisha Chetty as South Africa ended on 223 for nine. Ismail then returned the favour in the fourth over of the reply as she reduced Pakistan to 26 for two in a double-wicket maiden, dismissing Sidra Ameen and Bismah Maroof back-to-back, both sending edges to fielders. Omaima joined Nahida Khan at the crease and her first act was to miss the hat-trick ball attempting a cut shot. She and Nahida put together a valuable 50 partnership, the first for the pair in ODIs, coming off 81 balls, before Nahida would go for 40 off 71 as Ayabonga Khaka picked up her fifth wicket of the tournament, ending the 69-run partnership. Nida Dar joined Omaima, who continued her fine run-scoring, bringing up her 50 from 83 balls with a quick single off Ismail. Pakistan then went 44 balls without a boundary before a brave chip down the ground for four from Omaima reminded South Africa that Pakistan were still in the chase. Nida and Omaima then piled on more pressure sending Masabata Klaas for 11 runs only for Klaas to dismiss Omaima for 65 off the very next ball, with Lee taking her 50th catch in ODIs. The dangerous Aliya Riaz did not trouble the scorers, dismissed for her first duck in two years to leave Pakistan needing 79 runs from 70 balls with five wickets remaining. Fatima played an entertaining knock of nine from eight balls before being dismissed lbw by Khaka and Sidra would soon follow. After countless run-out chances, South Africa pulled off two to decide the match, first Khaka dismissing the anchor Nida Dar for 55 before the final wicket of Ghulam earned South Africa a six-run win with Ismail’s fine death bowling crucial again. Scores in brief South Africa beat Pakistan at Bay Oval, Tauranga by six runs South Africa 223/9 in 50.0 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 75, Sune Luus 62; Fatima Sana 3/43, Ghulam Fatima 3/52) Pakistan 217 all out in 49.5 overs (Omaima Sohail 65, Nida Dar 55; Shabnim Ismail 3/41, Ayabonga Khaka 2/43, Marizanne Kapp 2/43) Player of the Match: Shabnim Ismail (South Africa)

Sports Bulletin Report HAMILTON:-Amy Satterthwaite hit a fluent 75 and New Zealand’s bowlers suffocated India as the hosts secured a 62–run win to keep the race for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 semi-finals wide open. The White Ferns batted first and Satterthwaite’s knock off 84 balls and 50 from Amelia Kerr helped them to 260 for nine. New Zealand then bowled 162 dot balls as Lea Tahuhu – three for 17 from 10 overs – starred under the lights, as India were dismissed for 198 A brisk 71 from 63 balls by Harmanpreet Kaur could only delay the inevitable: a first win for New Zealand against India at an ICC women’s world event since the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2010. India elected to field and made a strong start as Pooja Vastrakar ran out Suzie Bates for just five. Kerr was then dropped on nine by a diving Yastika Bhatia as the White Ferns ended the powerplay on 51 for one. Sophie Devine was out in the next over, Vastrakar finding the skipper’s edge and sending her back to the pavilion for 35. Kerr and Satterthwaite then built a healthy 67-run partnership before Kerr fell LBW while attempting a sweep off Gayakwad to leave New Zealand on 121 for three. Satterthwaite brought up her 27th ODI half-century off 60 balls but lost her partner Maddy Green one ball later as Smriti Mandhana held a fine catch at mid-on. Katey Martin joined Satterthwaite and the experienced heads helped to put a sizeable total on the board, as they reached the final 10 overs at 211 for four. Vastrakar dropped Martin on 24 but made amends by taking two wickets in two balls, first bowling Tahuhu for one and then removing Satterthwaite for 75 to leave New Zealand on 240 for eight with 3.3 overs to go. Frankie Mackay successfully negotiated the hat-trick ball before Jhulan Goswami became the joint-highest wicket-taker in ICC Women World Cup history when she removed Martin for 41. Goswami finished with figures of one for 41 and her 39th World Cup dismissal moved her level with Australia’s Lyn Fullston. India made a slow start in reply, as Jess Kerr dismissed Mandhana for just six, while they finished the powerplay on 26 for two. New Zealand stifled India’s batters and chipped in with regular wickets, as Tahuhu removed Bhatia for 28 and Raj was stumped off Kerr for 31. Kerr then bowled Richa Ghosh for a first-ball duck to bring up a hat-trick chance, but Sneh Rana survived and went on to contribute 18. Kaur carried India’s innings and scored 20 off one Hannah Rowe over to leave India needing 90 from 42 balls. However, she fell to Kerr shortly after and then New Zealand took the remaining wickets to dismiss India for 198. Scores in brief New Zealand beat India at Seddon Park, Hamilton by 62 runs New Zealand 260/9 in 50 overs (Amy Satterthwaite 75, Amelia Kerr 50; Pooja Vastrakar 4/34; Rajeshwari Gayakwad 2/46) India 198 all out in 46.4 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 71, Mithali Raj 31; Lea Tahuhu 3/17, Amelia Kerr 3/56) Player of the Match: Amy Satterthwaite (New Zealand).

Sports Bulletin Report TAURANGA:-Australia earned a straightforward seven-wicket win over Pakistan in Tauranga despite a 99-run stand between Bismah Maroof and Aliya Riaz Bay Oval on Tuesday in Tauranga, New Zealand. Bismah top-scored with 78 not out for her first fifty since returning from maternity leave but it was not enough as a disciplined bowling display and an Alyssa Healy half-century earned Australia their second consecutive win at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022. Pakistan were put into bat for the first time this tournament and were soon two wickets down as Megan Schutt and Ellyse Perry dispatched the openers in back-to-back deliveries. Schutt forced Nahida Khan into an edge as Beth Mooney took the catch with Sidra Amin going the very next ball, captain Meg Lanning this time pouching the edge from a Pakistani bat. Captain Bismah and Omaima Sohail were then forced to rebuild, and the skipper led from the front, getting off the mark with a perfectly timed flick. Pakistan had slipped to 38 for three when Nida Dar strode out to the middle and faced Jess Jonassen in her first over with only two fielders outside the ring as Australia looked to force Pakistan into a wild shot. Nida went for five giving Amanda-Jade Wellington her first international wicket since 2018 and Bismah was once again welcoming a new partner to the crease. Pakistan made it to the halfway point without losing another wicket but it was slow going, their 50 partnership did not arrive for another six overs, coming off 107 deliveries. Bismah’s fifty was brought up off 96 balls with five fours and her celebration paid tribute to her baby daughter Fatima who was watching on with her grandmother on the balcony. Four balls later and the partnership reached 86, the highest for Pakistan at a World Cup with Riaz’s own fifty following not long after, her first at a World Cup. She would not add to her 53 as she was given out leg before wicket off the bowling of Nicola Carey, ending the partnership on 99, the joint-highest fifth-wicket partnership for Pakistan in ODIs. Fatima Sana would be the last wicket to fall for Pakistan as King got the promising all-rounder caught behind to leave Pakistan on 177 for six. Bismah and Diana Baig finished with a late flourish to set Australia a chase of 191 to win, Bismah ending on 78 not out, the second-highest individual score for Pakistan at a World Cup. Australia were in no way daunted by the chase as Healy and Haynes set about it with intent, finding gaps regularly. Haynes would fall just as she was getting going, departing for a run-a-ball 34 as Australia’s opening stand produced 60 runs. Healy’s fifty came off 55 balls, no need for her to go fast or aerial, and it felt like she and Lanning were in cruise control. Australia then experienced some turbulence as Lanning’s bails were knocked off by a Sohail delivery, meaning she had to go for 25 from 37, her bat frustratingly tucked under her arm on the way off. The job didn’t get any easier for Pakistan though, as Perry arrived at the crease and Healy’s free-scoring continued. Only a well-held catch in the deep from Nashra Sundhu could stop the wicket-keeper as she was forced to depart for 72 from 79. Australia were still well on track at 153 for three and Perry, 26 from 33, and Beth Mooney, 23 from 26, were unbeaten in the middle as they chased down 191 with 15.2 overs to spare for back-to-back victories to start their World Cup campaign. Scores in brief Australia beat Pakistan at Bay Oval, Tauranga by seven wickets Pakistan 190/6 in 50.0 overs (Bismah Maroof 78 not out, Aliya Riaz 53; Alana King 2/24, Amanda-Jade Wellington 1/25) Australia 193/3 in 34.4 overs (Alyssa Healey 72, Meg Lanning 35; Omaima Sohail 2/39, Nashra Sundhu 1/30) Player of the Match: Alyssa Healy (Australia).