Sidra guides Blasters to title

LAHORE: An unbeaten century from Sidra Amin, which included a 100-run partnership for the fourth-wicket with Aliya Riaz, helped PCB Blasters beat PCB Challengers by six runs in the final of the National Triangular One-Day Women Cricket Championship 2019 at the Lahore Gymkhana on Thursday, says a PCB press release.

After being put into bat, Blasters scored 216-5 in 50 overs.

Sidra, the right-handed opening batter, hit 11 fours in her unbeaten knock of 153-ball 102.

She added 100 runs for the fourth wicket with Aliya Riaz, who scored 42 off 47 balls with one four and three sixes.

In their run-chase, Challengers were restricted to 210-7 in 50 overs, thanks to Tooba Hassan and Almas Akram who took two wickets each.

Javeria Rauf top-scored in the innings with 51 off 83 balls with seven fours. Bismah Maroof scored a 56-ball 44, which was laced with five fours. Both contributed an 82-run partnership for the second wicket.

Requiring 14 runs in the final over to win the match, the Challengers managed to score only seven runs off Aliya Riaz bowling.

Sidra Amin was declared the player of the match, while Challengers’ leg-spinner Syeda Aroob Shah won the player of the tournament award for bagging 14 wickets in the tournament.

Scores in brief: PCB Blasters 216-5, 50 overs (Sidra Amin 102 not out, Aliya Riaz 42). PCB Challengers 210-7, 50 overs (Jaweria Rauf 51, Bismah Maroof 44, Natalia Pervaiz 39 not out; Tooba Hassan 2-28, Almas Akram 2-38). Player of the match: Sidra Amin; Player of the tournament: Syeda Aroob Shah, PCB Challengers (14 wickets in five wickets).