ZTBL ladies grabbed a big 93 runs win over one of the favourites Punjab to lift the inaugural 1st Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Women’s Cricket Challenge Trophy here at the Gaddafi Stadium.
ZTBL skipper Nida Dai played a leading role in her team’s win by leading from the front. She was not only declared the player of the match but was also named the best player of the tournament and in all she earned a total purse of Rs 35,000 for her efforts as in the final – Rs 10,000 and her entire tournament’s performance got her Rs 25,000.
In the final, ZTBL opted to bat first and hammered 174 runs for the loss of four wickets and Nida with her 64 runs innings and Qainta Jalil with 50 runs were the main contributors. Nida took just 47 balls to reach her 64 which was laced with nine hits off the ropes while Qainta also hit the same number of boundaries.
In their efforts, Punjab could reach just 81 runs and in the process lost just five wickets.
Ayesha Qazi with 52 was the highest scorer from Punjab. Faryal Awan remained not out at 18 and other than Ayesah and Faryal none of the other players played any suitable role. Sana Mir, Bishmah Maroof and Asmavia Iqbal dented the Punjab batting line-up with their to the line bowling that got ZTBL the trophy and Rs 100,000 win bonus. Punjab however, received Rs 50,000 and the runners-up trophy.
Marium Hasan Shah (Federal Capital) was named the best batswoman, Sana Mir (ZTBL) best bowler, Arman Khan (Balochistan) best fielder Sidra Nawaz (Federal Capital) best wicketkeeper and Qanita Jalil (ZTBL) best all rounder and all of them were awarded Rs. 10,000 each.
PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf was the chief guest of the prize distribution ceremony and presented the shields and trophies to the players and other performers of the tournament. Mres Bushra Aitzaz, chairperson PCB women wing and other board officials were also present on the occasion.
Scores: ZTBL – 174-4 in 20 overs: (Nida Dar 64, 47 balls, 9x4s, Qanita Jalil 50, 37 balls, 9x4s, Javeria Wadood Namra Imran 1-21, Sana Gulzar 1-34, Bakhtawar 1-39) v – Punjab – 81-5 in 20 overs: (Ayesha Qazi 25, 33 balls, 3x4s, Faryal Awan 18*, 36 balls, 2x4s, Sana Mir 2-12, Bismah Maroof 1-9, Asmavia Iqbal 1-7)
Result: ZTBL won by 93 runs
Toss: ZTBL
Umpires: Kausar Shah & Shakeela Rafiq
TV Umpires: Tahir Shah
Match Referee: Muhammad Anees
Official Scorer: Muhammad Arif Sr
