Tuba, Sadaf, and Muneeba guide Pakistan to statement opening victory
By Nawaz Gohar ; Pakistan launched their ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy campaign with an authoritative eight-wicket triumph over Bangladesh at the Karwan Sports Club Cricket Ground on Thursday, signaling their title credentials with a clinical all-round display.
Spearheaded by a sharp three-wicket spell from leg-spinner Tuba Hassan, Pakistan’s bowling unit throttled the Bangladeshi batting lineup to a modest 108-9 in their allotted 20 overs. In response, the hosts’ top order made light work of the 109-run target, cruising past the finish line in 15.5 overs with eight wickets to spare.
The comprehensive victory earns Pakistan two crucial points and vaults them straight to the summit of Group B, edging ahead of the Netherlands on superior net run rate after the opening round of fixtures.
Bangladesh captain Nahida Akter’s decision to bat first backfired early as Pakistan’s bowlers imposed strict discipline from the powerplay onward, denying the visitors any momentum or meaningful partnerships.
Tuba Hassan proved the chief architect of Bangladesh’s downfall, extracting sharp turn and bounce to finish with impressive figures of 3-26 in her four-over quota.
Left-arm orthodox spinner Nashra Sandhu provided relentless control from the opposite end, bagging two wickets to choke the middle overs.
Supporting pacers and spinners—Waheeda Akhtar, Momina Riasat, and Umm-e-Hani—chipped in with one wicket apiece to ensure no late-innings acceleration.
Only wicketkeeper-batter Nigar Sultana offered notable resistance, striking a brisk 27 off 20 deliveries (two fours, one six), while Shorna Akter contributed a run-a-ball 21. Shathi Rani and skipper Nahida Akter managed 11 runs each, but the remainder of the order folded under sustained dot-ball pressure.
Chasing 109 on a surface offering assistance to slow bowlers, Pakistan’s batters combined caution with calculated aggression to extinguish any hopes of a Bangladeshi fightback.
Opener Sadaf Shamas set the tempo upfront, anchoring the powerplay with a fluent 37 off 37 balls, laced with four boundaries and a towering six. Once Sadaf laid the foundation, skipper Muneeba Ali ensured zero drama, guiding the innings with an unbeaten 31 off 34 deliveries.
Ayesha Zafar then delivered the finishing flourish, blasting a quickfire 27 not out off just 18 balls—including four crisp boundaries—to seal the win with 25 deliveries remaining. Sobhana Mostary and Shorna Akter claimed a wicket each for Bangladesh, though their breakthroughs proved merely cosmetic against Pakistan’s measured chase.
