Bismah excels as Pakistan win series opener

KARACHI: Pakistan women won the opening One-day International (ODI) against Bangladesh Women in Karachi on Sunday by 20 runs to take the lead in the two-match series.
Bismah Maroof scored 92 off 128 balls to propel Pakistan to 214 before the left-arm spinner Anam Amin collected 3 for 25 to restrict Bangladesh to 194 for 9.
Pakistan, after winning the toss, got off to a sluggish and found themselves struggling at 38 for 2.
However, they recovered through a 61-run partnership for the third wicket between Nain Abidi (27 off 45) and Maroof. Two more quick wickets reduced Pakistan to 99 for 4, but Maroof kept the score ticking by anchoring the lower order and helped her team past the 200-run mark.
Salma Khatun, Bangladesh’s captain, was the pick of the bowlers, ending with 3 for 31 from her 10 overs.
The visitors began the chase cautiously, and kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Rumana Ahmed was the only batsman to put up a resistance, scoring 70. She was involved in two crucial stands worth 44, for the fourth and eighth wickets, but they were in vain, as none of the other senior players stood up with a substantial knock.
Besides Amin’s scalps, Asmavia Iqbal, Sana Mir, Nida Dar, Aliya Riaz and Maroof claimed a wicket each.
Score Board
Pakistan Women won toss
Pakistan Women
Javeria Khan c Khadija b Fahima 21
Sidra Ameen c & b Salma 12
Bismah Maroof c Fahima b Lata 92
Nain Abidi c Lata b Khadija 27
*Sana Mir c Rumana b Nahida 0
Aliya Riaz lbw b Salma 6
Nida Dar run out 21
Asmavia Iqbal c Nahida b Salma 13
†Rabiya Shah not out 12
Diana Baig run out 0
Anam Amin run out 2
Extras (lb 2, w 5, nb 1) 8
Total (all out; 49.5 overs) 214
Fall: 1-19, 2-38, 3-99, 4-99, 5-111, 6-140, 7-176, 8-208, 9-208, 10-214
Bowling: Jahanara 5-1-23-0 (1w); Lata 6.5-1-25-1 (3w); Nahida 8-1-39-1; Salma 10-2-31-3 (1w); Khadija 10-0-34-1; Fahima 7-0-42-1; Rumana 2-0-14-0 (1nb); Ritu 1-0-4-0
Bangladesh Women
Sharmin Akhter lbw b Anam 5
†Shamima Sultana b Anam 24
Fargana Hoque c & b Asmavia 26
Lata Mondal c Javeria b Nida 16
Rumana Ahmed c Nida b Bismah 70
*Salma Khatun c Aliya b Sana 3
Ritu Moni run out 7
Fahima Khatun b Aliya 2
Jahanara Alam c Diana b Anam 23
Nahida Akter not out 2
Khadija Tul Kubra not out 1
Extras (b 4, lb 1, w 10) 15
Total (9 wickets; 50 overs) 194
Fall: 1-25, 2-36, 3-60, 4-104, 5-125, 6-141, 7-146, 8-190, 9-192
Bowling: Asmavia 5-0-27-1 (2w); Diana 4-0-18-0 (2w); Anam 10-1-25-3 (2w); Sana 10-1-40-1; Nida 10-1-40-1; Aliya 8-1-29-1 (3w); Bismah 3-0-10-1
Result: Pakistan Women won by 20 runs
Series: Pakistan Women lead the 2-match series by 1-0
Women’s ODI debuts: Nahida Akter (Bangladesh Women); Diana Baig (Pakistan Women)
Player of the match: Bismah Maroof (Pakistan Women)
Umpires: Asif Yaqoob and Zameer Haider. TV umpire: Waleed Yaqub. Match referee: Aziz-ur-Rehman