KARACHI: Inspired by splendid centuries from Sana Taj and Qanita Jalil, Hyderabad and Abbottabad sealed qualification for the final round of the ninth Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah National Women’s Cricket Championship in Islamabad on Wednesday.

On the last day of qualifying-round matches, Hyderabad chalked out a 65-run win — their second straight in Group ‘A’ — over Quetta at the Marghazar Cricket Ground, while Abbottabad annihilated Bahawalpur by 160 runs in the Group ‘B’ fixture at the National Cricket Ground.

Quetta skipper Nahida Khan was left to rue her decision to field first after winning the toss as opener Sana struck an unbeaten 160 to help Hyderabad pile up 266-2 in the allotted 50 overs.

Sana, who adorned her 153-ball innings with 27 boundaries, overwhelmingly dominated the massive second-wicket partnership of 230 with Pakistan international Sajjida Shah.

Sajjida contributed a 114-ball 69 embellished with seven fours.

Quetta, in reply, finished at 201-9. Nahida played a captain’s knock of 95. She struck 12 boundaries and negotiated 101 balls before being stumped by Zanish Akhtar off off-spinner Zakiya Gul who captured four wickets for 38 runs in nine overs.

Hyderabad skipper Sumaiya Siddiqui’s medium-pacers fetched her three wickets for 24 runs in nine overs.

Sana Taj was declared the player-of-the-match.

Pakistan all-rounder Qanita Jalil stole the show as the Abbottabad captain hit 18 fours and two sixes in a quickfire 116 off only 93 deliveries which enabled her side to reach 265-6 after Bahawalpur skipper Saba Khurshid opted to bowl first at the toss.

Opener Hafza Khalid scored 50 (56 balls, seven boundaries) before Qanita and Nashra Sindhu (18) added exactly 100 for the fourth wicket.

Rubina Kausar and Humaira Khan each claimed two wickets.

Bahawalpur’s response to the tall chase was extremely feeble as they were dismissed inside 23 overs for a paltry 105 with only Saba offering some resistance. She scored a breezy 40 in a 28-ball innings containing eight boundaries.

Nashra was the most successful bowler in taking 3-20 in seven overs with her slow left-armers, while Sonia Shabbir and Atiqa Sabir chipped in with two wickets apiece.

Qanita was named the player-of-the-match.

The final round starts on Saturday with Hyderabad placed alongside Karachi, Rawalpindi and Sialkot in pool ‘A’ with Abbottabad joining Lahore, Islamabad and Multan in pool ‘B’.

Summarised scores:

Hyderabad bt Quetta by 65 runs.

HYDERABAD 266-2 in 50 overs (Sana Taj 160 not out, Sajjida Shah 60); QUETTA 201-9 in 50 overs (Nahida Khan 95, Sobia Ali 19; Zakiya Gul 4-38, Sumaiya Siddiqui 3-24).

Abbottabad bt Bahawalpur by 160 runs.

ABBOTTABAD 265-6 in 50 overs (Qanita Jalil 116, Hafza Khalid 50, Sonia Shabbir 20, Nashra Sindhu 18; Rubina Kausar 2-42, Humaira Khan 2-68); BAHAWALPUR 105 in 22.2 overs (Saba Khurshid 40, Ruqaiya Iqbal 14; Nashra Sindhu 3-13, Sonia Shabbir 2-1, Atiqa Sabir 2-7).

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2014