Sports Bulletin

Sports Bulletin Report Harare, Zimbabwe (November 22, 2021):-Pakistan only managed to get 20 runs in the first 6 overs of Power-play and also lost the wicket of opener Ayesha Zafar to a run-out, as starting the innings after losing the toss. The runs were hard to come by for Pakistan with the bowlers keeping it tight even after fielding restrictions were lifted. Bangladesh eventually reaped the rewards for their brilliant bowling, with the wicket of Muneeba Ali triggering a mini-collapse. In a span of four overs, Pakistan lost four wickets for just seven runs. Ritu Moni scalped the wickets of Ali and Omaima Sohail in a span of three balls while Nahida Akter sent skipper Javeria Khan and Iram Javed in consecutive overs. Pakistan, who were 42/1 at one stage, had lost half their side with just 49 runs on board. Pakistan needed something special to get out of the situation. Nida Dar and Aliya Riaz answered the call, stitching together a stunning 137-run stand to bail Pakistan out of trouble. Both the batters brought up their half-centuries. While Dar got out in the 49th over, Riaz remained unbeaten on 61* to help Pakistan post a respectable total of 201/7. In response, Anam Amin struck early for Pakistan, dismissing Murshida Khatun in the Powerplay. Sharmin Akhter and Fargana Hoque put on 70 runs for the second wicket but were made to work very hard for their runs. The bowlers were splendid in the first 10 overs, giving away just one boundary. The two batters targetted Fatima Sana, who gave 17 runs in her opening two overs. Nida Dar and Nashra Sandhu bowled very well in the middle overs to put Pakistan in a strong position going into the slog overs. Bowling continuously between overs 17 and 34, they gave away only 34 runs, with Sandhu accounting for the wickets of Akhter and skipper Nigar Sultana. Bangladesh were in further trouble once they lost the set batter Fargana Hoque in the 36th over. Needed 89 runs in the last 10 overs, Rumana Ahmed and Ritu Moni finally started to find the boundaries. Ahmed found the ropes twice in the 44th over against Diana Baig while Ritu Moni smashed Sana for three consecutive fours. However, three wickets in four balls threatened to derail all the momentum as the required run rate climbed over 10. However, Ahmed calmed the nerves in the dugout, hitting Sohail for four boundaries in the 48th over. Ahmed got to her fifty in the final over with Salma Khatun keeping her company with an unbeaten 11-ball 16 as Bangladesh clinched the thriller with two balls to spare. THAILAND BEAT ZIMBABWE Thailand opted to bat first in the second ICC Women's World Cup qualifier of the day in Harare against hosts Zimbabwe. Natthakan Chantham and Sornnarin Tippoch consolidated the innings after the early wicket of Nattaya Boochatham, who was out bowled by Esther Mbofana. They looked set for their half-centuries but fell short of the milestone, with Loreen Tshuma scalping both the batters in consecutive overs. Skipper Naruemol Chaiwai and Nannapat Koncharoenkai navigated Thailand through the rest of the middle overs, adding 69 runs for the fourth wicket. Chanida Sutthiruang's 28-ball 35* helped Thailand post a solid target of 248 for Zimbabwe to chase down. In response, Zimbabwe got off to a slow yet steady start, with the openers putting on 49 for the first wicket in 17 overs. After the fall of the wicket, Sharne Mayers and Josephine Nkomo upped the scoring rate, stitching 59 runs in 70 balls. Once Mayers fell short of a fifty by three runs, Nkomo Mary-Anne Musonda started to take the attack to the Thailand bowlers. Both the batters brought up their respective fifties and brought the equation down to 65 in 10 overs with eight wickets still in hand. Suleeporn Laomi struck for Thailand in the 41st over, breaking the 77-run partnership that came in just 75 balls. The wicket derailed all the momentum that Zimbabwe had built as they struggled to find boundaries in the death. In fact, they found the ropes just once in the last nine overs. Despite Musonda batting till the end of the innings, Zimbabwe fell short by 9 runs as Thailand put their first points on board.

Sports Bulletin Report Dubai (November 21, 2021):-Three Sri Lanka players at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2021 have tested positive for COVID-19 and are isolating. The players tested positive following a screening of all team members after one player showed mild symptoms, as per the bio-secure protocols in place to ensure the safety of all participants in the nine-team event, which got underway in Harare today. Two of the players are experiencing mild symptoms, whilst the third is asymptomatic. All three are isolating and receiving the appropriate medical care. The remainder of the Sri Lanka squad, are negative but are currently isolating as a precaution and will be re-tested ahead of their opening match against the Netherlands on Tuesday. ICC Head of Events Chris Tetley said the event would be proceeding as planned: “We have playing squads of 15 at the event, which allows for injuries and illness, including COVID-19 to be managed, and in addition teams have had the option of bringing traveling reserves with them. As you would expect, the remainder of the squad are being closely monitored and they will all be re-tested ahead of taking to the field on Tuesday. “The event bio-security plan provides us with protocols to manage positive tests effectively with the intention of enabling the event to proceed whilst keeping all other players and participants safe.” Sri Lanka play the Netherlands in their opening match on Tuesday with their remaining Group A matches on Saturday (vs the West Indies) and Monday (vs Ireland). Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Zimbabwe and the USA form Group B, with three sides from each group making it to the Super Six stage, in which the final placings will be decided. The tournament decides three qualifiers for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 to be held in New Zealand from 4 March to 3 April, joining five teams who have already qualified through the ICC Women’s Championship – Australia, England, India, South Africa and hosts New Zealand. The three qualifiers as well as the next two teams will also ensure places in the next ICC Women’s Championship (IWC) along with the top five from last time, as the number of teams in the third cycle of the IWC goes up from eight to 10 teams.

Sports Bulletin Report Harare, Zimbabwe (November 21, 2021):-After by a comprehensive win over Ireland Women in the warm-up match, Pakistan Women enter the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier with confidence. The national women’s team will play the opening match of the nine-team tournament against Bangladesh Women at Old Hararians Sports Club on Sunday. Pakistan, who are drawn in Group B, will then play Thailand Women, Zimbabwe Women and USA Women on 23, 27 and 29 November. The top three teams from the two groups will qualify for the Super 6 stage, from where top three teams will join the five sides – four teams that secured qualification by finishing in top four on the ICC Women’s Championship points table and event hosts New Zealand – for the event proper in March-April next year. Each and every match in the tournament holds significance as the points earned in the first round group matches will be transferred to the Super Six stage. Stressing on the importance of starting well, Pakistan captain Javeria Khan said, “Our match against Bangladesh is very important as it will set the tone of the tournament for us. As is the format, we will be carrying forward the points that we earn in the group stage, so this match is vital for us. “Every win uplifts the side and it was very good to see everyone contributing in the win against Ireland in the warm-up. This warm-up match helped us in accessing the conditions here and it provided us welcome match practice.” Pakistan squad: Javeria Khan (captain), Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Iram Javed, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali (wicketkeeper), Nashra Sundhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin and Sidra Nawaz (wicketkeeper) Reserves players: Aiman Anwar, Maham Tariq and Rameen Shamim.

Sports Bulletin Report DUBAHI (November 20, 2021):-The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2021 supported by Dream 11 gets underway in Harare on Sunday with more at stake than just sealing places in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 in New Zealand. Apart from the three sides who will join the five who have already qualified for the World Cup, two others will also clinch places in the next ICC Women’s Championship (IWC) along with the top five from last time, as the number of teams in the third cycle of the IWC goes up from eight to 10. If teams like India and South Africa had figured in the 2017 Qualifier in Colombo, the nine-team tournament this time includes former T20 World Champions the West Indies (in Group A along with Sri Lanka, Ireland and the Netherlands) and World Cup regulars Pakistan (in Group B along with Bangladesh, Thailand, Zimbabwe and the United States). The final placings will be decided in a Super Six stage comprising three teams each advancing from the two groups. The teams making it to this round will carry over points gained in the preliminary league against other teams that advance to the Super Six stage. West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor looked forward to the tournament while exuding confidence on the back of an impressive 3-0 series victory over Pakistan this month. West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor: “We’re definitely looking forward to kickstarting the Qualifiers. The expectations are pretty high for us to finish number one or at least in the top three and be one of the eight teams in New Zealand next year. With that being said, we’re not taking any team for granted.  We’re going to go out there and play our best cricket. “I believe the all-round ability of our team is our strength, our batting is peaking at a good time heading into the Qualifiers, which was exemplified with two centuries in the recent series against Pakistan. Our bowlers are showing that they can defend the scores posted by the batters. So, we are looking forward to a competitive but enjoyable tournament.” Zimbabwe captain Mary-Anne Musonda, on the other hand, spoke for teams eyeing places in the IWC, which ensures exposure against top sides over the next three-year cycle. Zimbabwe captain Mary-Anne Musonda: “These qualifiers are very important for us. We have got a shot at qualifying for the World Cup, which is a very big platform and something that we want, and the opportunity of finishing in the top five, which will mean we will have tours as part of the ICC Women’s Championship. That would be good for our team - getting to play top sides. “Hosting (this event) is such a great thing for us - home conditions and fans cheering for us! We have a fair chance of making it to the top five and fighting through to get to the top three. We are hoping to start by winning our two games in Group B, aiming to take it one game at a time and hope for the best in the end. We have a good mix of youth and experience in our side.” Zimbabwe will play against Thailand on the opening day at Harare Sports Club while Bangladesh and Pakistan play at the Old Hararians Club simultaneously.

Sports Reporter DUBAHI (November 17, 2021):-West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor has moved up in the list of batters in the latest update to the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings after a match-winning century against Pakistan that helped complete a 3-0 series win. Tuesday’s updates, which take into account the second and third ODIs between Pakistan and the West Indies as well as the three Zimbabwe versus Bangladesh matches, sees Taylor move up two slots to 12th position after an unbeaten 102 in the third ODI in Karachi. Taylor’s compatriot Hayley Matthews is another big gainer, moving up four slots to 25th among batters and up three slots to 20th among bowlers. She is also up two places to 12th in the all-rounders’ list after a match-winning four-wicket haul in the second match and a score of 49 in the third. For Pakistan, Aliya Riaz (up three places to 37th) and Omaima Sohail (up two places to 39th) have moved up the list for batters and Nashra Sandhu (up one place to 21st) and Anam Amin (up four places to 43rd) have progressed among bowlers. Bangladesh’s Fargana Hoque has gained seven places to reach joint-26th position after smashing a 53 not out in the second ODI against Zimbabwe while her team-mate Rumana Ahmed has moved up two places to 34th. Captain Salma Khatun (up five places to 39th) and Nahida Akter (up 11 places to 45th) have advanced in the bowlers’ list.

Saad Kayani KARACHI:-Pakistan women’s national cricket team will depart for Zimbabwe to participate in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier from Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport at 0250 on Tuesday morning. They will be joined by their West Indian counterparts on the journey after the two sides played a three-match One-Day International series at the National Stadium, which concluded on Sunday. Meanwhile, the national women’s selection committee has announced a 15-player squad and three traveling reserves for the World Cup Qualifier from the 18 announced before the West Indies series. Squad: Javeria Khan (captain), Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Iram Javed, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali (wicketkeeper), Nashra Sundhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin and Sidra Nawaz (wicketkeeper) Traveling reserves: Aiman Anwar, Maham Tariq and Rameen Shamim. Support staff: Fizza Abid (team manager), David Hemp (head coach), Arshad Khan (assistant coach), Saboor Ahmad (strength and condition coach), Zubair Ahmad (analyst) and Rabia Siddiq (physiotherapist).

Saad Kayani KARACHI:-Captain Stafanie Taylor scored the seventh century of her ODI career to spearhead her side’s six-wicket win over Pakistan in the third and final match of the series played at the National Stadium Karachi on Sunday. The victory ensured a three-zero clean sweep for the visitors who won the first match by 45 runs and the second match by 37 runs. Set a 226-run target, West Indies were rocked early on in their chase when left-arm spinner Anam Amin took two wickets and Diana Baig took one to reduce the visitors to 15 for three in the fifth over. An 83-run partnership for the fourth-wicket between Hayley Matthews (49 off 58 balls, eight fours) and Taylor revived the chase. Matthews fell with the total on 98, at this stage Taylor was joined by Chedean Nation. The two took control of the chase as their partnership remained intact as the West Indies surpassed the target with six overs to spare. The pair added 128 runs in their unbroken fifth-wicket alliance. Taylor scored 102 off 117 balls with the help of 12 fours. Nation scored 51 off 67 balls (seven fours.). Anam took two wickets for Pakistan while Diana and Sadia Iqbal took a wicket apiece. Earlier, Pakistan posted 225 for seven after being put into bat. Left-handed opener Muneeba Ali scored her maiden half-century, she hit eight fours in her 88-ball innings. Muneeba added 49 for the first-wicket with Ayesha Zafar (13). Skipper Javeria Khan scored 13 while Omaima Sohail contributed 27 off 53 balls. All-rounder Aliya Riaz (44 not out, 57 balls, three fours, one six) and Iram Javed 26 took the score past the 200-run mark. Fatima Sana and Diana Baig hit a six each as Pakistan finished with a competitive 225 for seven total in their 50 overs. Aaliyah Alleyne and Shakera Selman took two wickets each. Scores in Brief: West Indies beat Pakistan by six wickets Pakistan Women 225 for 7, 50 overs (Muneeba Ali 58, Aliya Riaz 44 not out, Omaima Sohail 27; Aaliyah Alleyne 2-41, Shakera Selman 2-40) West Indies Women 226 for 4, 44 overs (Stafanie Taylor 102 not out, Chedean Nation 51 not out, Hayley Matthews 49; Anam Amin 2-45) Player of the match: Stafanie Taylor Player of the series: Hayley Matthews

SAAD KAYANI Karachi (November 11, 2021):-All-rounder Hayley Matthews produced a stellar performance with bat and ball to spearhead West Indies women’s 37-run win in the low scoring second ODI against Pakistan at the National Stadium Karachi on Thursday. The victory gave West Indies an unassailable two-zero lead in the three-match series with the third and final match scheduled for Sunday at the same venue. The visitors won the first match by 45 runs on Monday. Chasing a 154-run target, Pakistan were bowled out for 116 in 39.2 overs. Omaima Sohail (27) and captain Javeria Khan (24) were the only batters to post a 20 plus score as the West Indies bowlers maintained a stranglehold on the scoring besides chipping in with wickets at regular intervals. Shamilia Connell took three wickets for 18 runs in 9.2 overs, Shakera Selman and Anisa Mohammad took a wicket apiece. Earlier, West Indies were bowled out for 153 in 45.4 overs. Pakistan bowlers and fielders had a brilliant outing after captain Javeria Khan won the toss and opted to bowl first. Pacer Fatima Sana who took five wickets in the previous match took two wickets in one over to peg the visitors back in the 12th over. Pakistan got the prized wicket of first match’s centurion Deandra Dottin (34) via a run out with the score at 64 in the 20th over. Pakistan made regular inroads after dismissing Dottin, Fatima was ably supported by Anam Amin and Omaima Sohail who both took two wickets each conceding 21 and 25 runs respectively. Nashra Sandhu and Sadia Iqbal took a wicket each, Dottin was the top-scorer for West Indies, Hayley Matthews contributed 26 while Shemaine Campbelle scored an unbeaten 23, captain Stafanie Taylor scored 23 off 46 balls. Scores in Brief: West Indies beat Pakistan by 37 runs West Indies Women 153 all out, 45.4 overs (Deandra Dottin 34, Hayley Matthews 26; Fatima Sana 2-19, Anam Amin 2-21, Omaima Sohail 2-25) Pakistan Women 116 all out, 39.2 overs (Omaima Sohail 27, Javeria Khan 24; Hayley Matthews 4-26, Shamilia Connell 3-18)

Sports Desk ISLAMABAD (November 10, 2021):-Papua New Guinea (PNG) have withdrawn from the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2021 in Zimbabwe as they are unable to send a team due to several members of the squad testing positive for COVID-19. PNG were to take on defending champions the West Indies on the opening day of the tournament, which runs from 21 November to 5 December across four venues in Harare. There will be no replacement for PNG in Group A, which will now consist of four teams - Sri Lanka, Ireland, the Netherlands and the West Indies. The five-team Group B comprises Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Zimbabwe and the United States. ICC Head of Events Chris Tetley said: “Obviously we’re incredibly disappointed not to be able to welcome PNG to the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifer, but they have been unable to field a team because a number of the squad have contracted COVID-19. The safety of the players and everyone involved in our events is paramount and we will go ahead with the tournament maintaining our bio-security standards. “I really feel for the PNG players, who have been preparing extensively for this event and for whom it would have been a wonderful experience playing against several top sides in Harare, with the opportunity to qualify for the Women’s World Cup and the next round of the ICC Women’s Championship. We hope that they are back playing international cricket soon and continue to develop as a team.” The Zimbabwe event is an important one on the calendar as it decides three qualifiers for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 to be held in New Zealand from 4 March to 3 April, joining five teams who have already qualified through the ICC Women’s Championship – Australia, England, India, South Africa and hosts New Zealand. The three qualifiers as well as the next two teams will also ensure places in the next ICC Women’s Championship (IWC) along with the top five from last time, as the number of teams in the third cycle of the IWC goes up from eight to 10 teams.

SAAD KAYANI Karachi, 8 November 2021: A brilliant century by player of the match Deandra Dottin scripted West Indies Women’s to 45-run win over Pakistan Women in the first One-Day International at National Stadium on Monday. The West Indies opener smashed 132 off 146 balls and smoked 18 fours and two sixes after Pakistan’s stand-in captain Sidra Nawaz opted to bowl after winning the toss. This was Dottin’s best score in the format. Dottin added 119 runs for the third wicket with Hayley Matthews, who scored 57 off 67 (eight fours), as their partnership set the platform for the tourists to post 253 for eight before Shemaine Campbelle scored a brisk 23 off 20. Dottin’s century and the eventual Pakistan defeat eclipsed Anam Amin’s maiden five-wicket haul. The left-arm orthodox from Lahore returned five for 35 with two of her 10 overs being maiden. Anam accounted for Dottin, Rashada Williams (15 off 40), Hayley Matthews, Campbelle and Kycia Knight (six off six). Birthday girl Fatima Sana, who came into this match after recording a five-wicket haul in the fifth and final ODI against West Indies in Antigua in July, took two for 65. This match marked a significant moment in the 20-year-old’s career as she opened the bowling for Pakistan against the very opposition to whom she bowled as a net bowler when they were in the city two years ago for three T20Is. Pakistan crumbled in their reply. Opener Sidra Amin was caught on the last ball of the second over and one-drop Ayesha Zafar was LBW on the last ball of the eighth over. Both batters were sent packing by Shakera Selman. Iram Javed fought back with a 34-ball 40 as she added 57 runs for the fourth wicket with Kainat Imtiaz (24 off 60), but the dismissal of the former pretty much settled the game in the tourists favour. Aliya Riaz top-scored with 46 off 61 (three fours). She was run out in the 47th over with Pakistan 56 runs away from the target. The two teams will play the second ODI on 11 November at the same venue. Scores in brief: West Indies Women 253-8, 50 overs (Deandra Dottin 132, Hayley Matthews 57, Shemaine Campbelle 23; Anam Amin 5-35, Fatima Sana 2-65) Pakistan Women 208-9, 50 overs (Aliya Riaz 46, Iram Javed 40, Muneeba Ali 28, Kainat Imtiaz 24, Sidra Nawaz 23; Hayley Mathews 3-31, Shakera Selman 2-35) Player of the match - Deandra Dottin