Pakistan, still seeking their first win of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017, face an unbeaten Australia at Grace Road, Leicester on Wednesday.
Six-time champion Australia have won all of their first three matches in the tournament so far. Pakistan, however, are looking to end the losing streak after falling short against South Africa, England and India.
The Sana Mir-led team impressed in the bowling department against India, with Nashra Sandhu taking an impressive four for 26 and Diana Baig earning praise for her swing bowling.
But the batting crumbled with Sana Mir (29) and Bibi Nahida (23) the only players to reach double figures, as Pakistan were bowled out for just 74.
Diana Baig though is looking at the positives ahead of the crunch game with Australia.
“We’re trying to prepare for the next matches and we’re positive for the Australia match that we will do something. It’s an amazing feeling to play against Australia, but it’s just a team. I want to play against the next team.
“Our fielding and bowling we were 100 per cent but we didn’t click in our batting (against India) but we will bounce back in our next match,” she vowed.
Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry, who smashed 71 runs in the match against New Zealand, said her team won’t take Pakistan lightly.
“Every match is a bit of a challenge. We’ve seen teams knock one another off with it being a bit unexpected.. For us, we would just like to keep building and hopefully improving with each match. That’s really the key.
“If those things go well then towards the end of the tournament you should be in a really good place but there’s a bit of cricket to play before then,” she said.
Squads
Pakistan: Sana Mir (captain), Asmavia Iqbal, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Ghulam Fatima, Iram Javed, Javeria Wadood, Kainat Imtiaz, Marina Iqbal, Bibi Nahida, Nain Abidi, Nashra Sundhu, Sadia Yousaf, Sidra Nawaz and Waheeda Akhter
Australia: Meg Lanning (captain), Sarah Aley, Kristen Beams, Nicole Bolton, Alex Blackwell, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Belinda Vakarewa, Elyse Villani and Amanda-Jade Wellington
Umpires: Sue Redfern and Anil Chaudhary
Match referee: David Jukes
