ISLAMABAD: Conquerors and Stars beat Strikers and Invincibles, respectively to qualify for the final of the National Women’s One-Day Tournament.

Stars qualified for the final after achieving a superior net run-rate to Invincibles as both the sides finished with 10 points each.

Batting first, Strikers were bowled out for 150 in 41.3 overs at the Diamond Cricket Ground in Islamabad. 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 claimed four wickets for 23 runs in 6.3 overs. Nashra Sundhu bagged two wickets for 14 runs in nine overs.

Conquerors achieved the target in 30.4 overs while losing four wickets. Fatima Sana (56 not out off 43 balls) and Najiha Alvi (40 not out off 49) knitted an unbeaten 94-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

In the day’s other match staged at the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, Stars after being sent in to bat 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 off 90) and Sidra Nawaz (50 off 74) scored half-centuries. Invincibles Tania Saeed bagged three wickets for 38 in her nine overs.

In reply, Invincibles were bowled out for 141 in 40.2 overs with Ayesha Zafar (54-ball 46) top-scoring. She shared an opening stand of 71 with Aisha Naeem (19).

Neelam Mushtaq bagged five wickets for 22 while Tuba took three wickets for 38 in 8.2 overs.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2024