Pakistan complete Zimbabwe whitewash after Fatima’s 19-ball blitz
By Nawaz Gohar ; A masterclass in power-hitting by captain Fatima Sana and a clinical bowling performance led by left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal propelled the Pakistan Women’s team to a resounding 133-run victory over Zimbabwe in the third T20I at the National Bank Stadium on Friday.
The emphatic win seals a flawless 3-0 series whitewash for the hosts, leaving the visiting Chevrons searching for answers after being outclassed in every department.
Opting to bat first on a true Karachi surface, Pakistan unleashed a batting masterclass to post a mammoth 223 for 4 in their allotted 20 overs. The foundation was laid by a flamboyant new opening pairing of Muneeba Ali (22) and Ayesha Zafar, who combined to plunder 58 runs in the batting powerplay.
Zafar was particularly devastating, smashing a quickfire 45 off just 28 balls, laced with nine boundaries, before being trapped leg-before by Lindokuhle Mabhero.
When Natalia Pervaiz fell shortly after, leaving Pakistan at a slightly unsteady 93 for 3, Zimbabwe briefly sensed an opening. However, a stabilizing 49-run partnership between Iram Javed (29) and Saira Jabeen steadied the ship, setting the stage for an absolute fireworks display at the death.
What followed was pure carnage. Skipper Fatima Sana joined Jabeen and completely dismantled the Zimbabwean bowling attack in a blazing 71-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Fatima played a captain’s knock for the ages, top-scoring with a swashbuckling 62 off a mere 19 deliveries, a breathtaking cameo studded with 10 fours and two towering sixes. Jabeen anchored the onslaught beautifully, finishing unbeaten on 50 off 32 balls. Mabhero was the pick of the visitors’ bowlers, claiming 2 for 36, but could do little to stem the late-innings flow of runs.
Chasing a daunting 224 for victory, Zimbabwe’s reply never found its rhythm against a disciplined and relentless Pakistan bowling unit. Left-handed opener Kelis Ndhlovu waged a valiant, lone battle, striking a counter-punching 32 off just 13 balls with six boundaries and a six. Once she fell, the innings crumbled rapidly.
Sadia Iqbal was the destructor-in-chief, spinning a web around the Zimbabwean batters to return stellar figures of 3 for 20 in her three overs. She found immaculate support in fellow spinner Nashra Sandhu, who choked the scoring rate with an economical 2 for 21.
Tuba Hassan, Rameen Shamim, and the omnipresent Fatima Sana chipped in with a wicket apiece as Zimbabwe were bundled out for a meager 90 runs in 17.1 overs, handing Pakistan a comprehensive and historic series clean sweep.
