The Pakistan women’s under-19 cricket team has secured a spot in the Super Six stage of the ongoing ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa, after defeating Zimbabwe in a thrilling match. The Pakistani team, led by opener Eyman Fatima, chased down a target of 98 runs in just 10.5 overs, with Fatima remaining unbeaten on 62 runs in 35 balls, hitting 10 fours and 2 sixes. Her opening partner Shawaal Zulfiqar also played a key role, scoring 32 runs in 30 balls.
In the earlier part of the match, Zimbabwe, who had chosen to bat first, were only able to score 97-6 in their allotted 20 overs. Although skipper Kelis Ndhlovu put up a strong performance with 42 runs in 35 balls, none of the other Zimbabwean batters were able to make a significant contribution.
For Pakistan, Anosha Nasir was the standout bowler, finishing with figures of 2-21 in four overs. Areesha Noor and Laiba Nasir also claimed one wicket each. This win comes after Pakistan’s previous match against Rwanda, which they won by eight wickets, and their loss against England by 53 runs.
The Super Six stage will see the top three teams from each group compete in two groups of six. Group 1 will include the three teams each from Groups A and D, while Group 2 will have three teams each from Groups B and C. The top two teams from each group will move on to the semi-finals, which will be played on January 27th at JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom. The final will take place at the same venue on January 29th.
The Pakistan squad for this tournament includes Aroob Shah as captain, along with players such as Aliza Khan, Anosha Nasir, Areesha Noor, Eyman Fatima, and others. The reserves include Aqsa Yousaf, Dina Razvi, Maham Anees, Muskan Abid, and Tahzeeb Shah.
Overall, the Pakistan team has shown great resilience and sportsmanship throughout the tournament, and will undoubtedly bring their A-game to the Super Six stage. With Fatima leading the charge and the rest of the team putting in strong performances, Pakistan has a good chance of making it to the semi-finals and possibly even the finals.
