Nida Dar scored a century as Pakistan beat Japan in the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier (WWCQ) being held in Dhaka. Nida Dar’s century helped Pakistan defeat Japan Sunday as Pakistan finish Group B in second position while Sri Lanka’s Shashikala Siriwardene claimed three wickets to help dismiss the USA and thereby helped her side register another win and ensured Dilani Manodara’s team concluded Group A in second place. West Indies and South Africa maintained their unbeaten run in the event as the sides won both of their final rounds of group matches at the tournament. Pakistan’s Nida Dar proved the pick of her side’s batting line-up as the 24-year-old scored a century against Japan in a match that saw some swift fielding by the Japanese in what some spectators may say was the East-Asia Pacific side’s best performance in the field to date in the ICC WWCQ.
Ema Kuribayashi claimed three wickets during Pakistan’s innings, while poor communication between Pakistan’s batters meant Kuribayashi’s side displayed its agility in the field and some impressive throwing to claim five run-outs, including that of Marina Iqbal, captain Sana Mir, Bismah Maroof and ultimately the centurion Nida as well. Japan’s bowlers proved far tighter in the field today, but despite great effort, the side could not stop the run-maker Nida, who finished the 50-over game on 124 after she was run-out by Miho Kanno. Having been set a target of 273 by Pakistan, it was always going to be a difficult task for Japan’s batters who have struggled against spin in Dhaka, Sadia Yousef being the nemesis of the Japanese batters. The 22-year-old left-arm orthodox spinner ran through the Japan line-up claiming six wickets for just two runs, while Nida claimed two wickets and the entire Japan side collapsed for just 26 runs. Japan will now play Zimbabwe on Tuesday in the ninth/10th play-off for the ICC WWCQ at BKSP 2. By virtue of topping their groups, the two sides have now qualified for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2013 and have also retained its ODI statuses.
