Clean Sweep in Karachi: Feroza’s century powers Pakistan to historic series whitewash
Clean Sweep in Karachi: Feroza’s century powers Pakistan to historic series whitewash
By Nawaz Gohar ; The Pakistan Women’s cricket team cemented their absolute authority at the National Bank Stadium on Saturday, dismantling Zimbabwe by nine wickets in the final ODI to secure a flawless 3-0 series sweep.
In a display of pure batting masterclass, the home side turned a competitive 223-run target into a mere formality, crossing the finish line with a staggering 18.1 overs to spare.
The story of the day was the record-breaking opening partnership between Gull Feroza and Sadaf Shamas. The duo shared a 220-run stand that effectively demoralized the Zimbabwean bowling attack from the first over.
Feroza was the aggressor-in-chief, crafting a magnificent, unbeaten 106 off just 92 balls. Her innings, punctuated by 16 crisp boundaries, marked her second century in the format and underscored her evolution into a world-class opener.
Shamas was equally impressive, falling just short of her own milestone with a gritty 90 off 98 deliveries before Kudzai Chigora claimed the lone wicket of the innings. Stand-in skipper Muneeba Ali then applied the finishing touches with a boundary to seal the whitewash.
Earlier in the day, the visitors showed signs of life, posting their most competitive total of the series with 222/9. The innings was anchored by two standout performances: Kelis Ndlovu provided an early platform with a steady 51.
Beloved Biza played the innings of her life, a fluent 73 off 88 balls that threatened to push Zimbabwe toward a 250-plus score. However, despite a late unbeaten 35 from captain Nomvelo Sibanda, the Zimbabwean middle and lower order struggled to find an extra gear against a disciplined Pakistani attack.
Pakistan’s bowlers ensured the visitors never truly broke free. Tasmia Rubab was the pick of the bowlers, returning figures of 3/49, while Ayesha Zafar provided exceptional control with a miserly spell of 2/13. Leg-spinner Syeda Aroob Shah continued her fine form, chipping in with 2/36 to break crucial partnerships during the middle overs.
This 3-0 victory is a significant morale booster for Pakistan. While Zimbabwe showed flashes of brilliance through Biza and Ndlovu, they were ultimately outclassed by a Pakistani side that excelled in all three departments. For the hosts, the emergence of a settled, high-scoring opening pair in Feroza and Shamas remains the biggest takeaway from the series.
