Stars, Conquerors qualify for final

ISLAMABAD: Conquerors and Stars beat Strikers and Invincibles, respectively to qualify for the final of the National Women’s One-Day Tournament. The final will be played tomorrow (Sunday) at the Pindi Stadium with the first ball of the 45-over match to be bowled at 9.30am.

At the Diamond Cricket Ground, batting first Strikers were bowled out for 150 in 41.3 overs. Aleena Masood top-scored with an unbeaten 64 off 131 balls, hitting four boundaries and one six, while also carrying the bat. Conquerors’ Hafsa Khalid was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets for 23 runs in 6.3 overs. Nashra Sandhu bagged two wickets for 14 runs in nine overs.

In turn, Conquerors achieved the target in 30.4 overs losing four wickets. Fatima Sana (56 not out) and Najiha Alvi (40 not out) knitted an unbeaten 94-run partnership for the fifth wicket. At the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium, after being put into bat, Stars scored 223-7 in 45 overs. No. 8 batter Tuba Hassan scored an unbeaten 61 off 31 balls, smashing seven fours and three sixes, while Kaynat Hafeez (50) and Sidra Nawaz (50) scored half-centuries.

Invincibles’ Tania Saeed bagged 3-38 in her nine overs. In reply, Invincibles were bowled out for 141 in 40.2 overs with opening batter Ayesha Zafar top-scoring with a 54-ball 46, hitting seven fours. She also shared an opening stand of 71 runs with Aisha Naeem (19).

For Stars, right-arm off-spinner Neelam Mushtaq bagged five wickets for 22, while Tuba with her leg-spin bowling took three wickets for 38 in 8.2 overs. At the end of match, Stars qualified for the final after having a superior net run-rate to Invincibles as both sides finished with 10 points each.

Scores in brief: Conquerors beat Strikers by six wickets at Diamond Ground, Islamabad: Strikers 150 all out, 41.3 overs (Aleena Masood 64 not out, Nida Dar 29; Hafsa Khalid 4-23, Nashra Sundhu 2-14). Conquerors 155-4, 30.4 overs (Fatima Sana 56 not out, Najiha Alvi 40 not out, Dua Majid 33). Player of the match: Hafsa Khalid (Conquerors).

Stars beat Invincibles by 82 runs at Shoaib Akhtar Stadium, Rawalpindi: Stars 223-7, 45 overs (Tuba Hassan 61 not out, Sidra Nawaz 50, Kaynat Hafeez 50; Tania Saeed 3-38). Invincibles 141 all out, 40.2 overs (Ayesha Zafar 46; Neelam Mushtaq 5-22, Tuba Hasan 3-38). Player of the match (joint): Neelam Mushtaq and Tuba Hassan (Stars).

Invincibles 141 all out, 40.2 overs (Ayesha Zafar 46; Neelam Mushtaq 5-22, Tuba Hasan 3-38) Player of the match (joint) – Neelam Mushtaq and Tuba Hassan (Stars)