Maroof, Muneeba guide Challengers to easy win over Blasters

Half-centuries from Bismah Maroof and Muneeba Ali helped PCB Challengers beat PCB Blasters by eight wickets in the National Triangular T20 Women’s Cricket Championship at the National Stadium in Karachi on Monday (January 13).

Chasing a moderate target of 125, Challengers suffered an early dent as Anam Amin dismissed Ayesha Zafar for a golden duck. Ali and captain Maroof then combined to stitch together a solid 121-run partnership that saw both the batters bring up their respective fifties.

With just four runs needed to take the side home, Ali was removed by Ramin Shamim for a well-compiled 56. Nida Dar joined Maroof and the pair knocked off the remaining runs without further fuss. Maroof remained unbeaten on 62 while Dar returned to the dugout to celebrate the win with her one not out.

Earlier, Javeria Khan's half-century powered Blasters to post 124 for the loss of five wickets after opting to bat first. Hafsa Khalid gave Blasters a scare when she ran out Ayesha Naseem for a six-ball naught to leave them at 6 for 1. Javeria and Jaweria Rauf rebuilt the innings with their 59-run stand before the latter was stumped for 27 off Aroob Shah.

The dismissal of Rauf forced Javeria to take charge of the innings. The right-hander single-handedly took Blasters to a respectable total as no other batter was able to keep the scoreboard ticking. For Blasters, Javeria remained unbeaten on 67 while Fatima Sana, Dar and Aroob took a wicket each for Challengers.

Brief scores: PCB Blasters 124/5 in 20 overs (Javeria Khan 67*, Jaweria Rauf 27) lost to PCB Challengers 125/2 in 17.1 overs (Bismah Maroof 62*, Muneeba Ali 56) by eight wickets. PoM: Bismah Maroof