World T20: Javeria leads Pakistan to victory over Ireland

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GUYANA: Pakistan women cricket team won their first match in the 2018 ICC Women’s World T20 owing to captain Javeria Khan’s smashing 74 off 52 balls in West Indies on Tuesday.

In a crucial match, Khan led the way as Pakistan defeated Ireland by 38 runs at the Providence Stadium, keeping its chances alive.

Green shirts while batting first made a total of 139 for the loss of six wickets. Irish team started well with opening batswoman Clare Shillington scoring five boundaries before she was stumped on a total of 27. After her dismissal, the Irish failed to build on the momentum. Isobel Joyce contributed 30 runs to the otherwise strangling batting performance of the Irish team.

Nashra Sandhu, former skipper Sana Mir, Aiman Anwar and Aliya Riaz picked two wickets each to help Pakistan achieve its first victory in the tournament.

Ireland remains at the bottom of Group B after their second defeat in the tournament while Pakistan is at number three owing to its only victory in the tournament.

Although the much-needed win keeps Pakistan in the qualification hunt, it still has to rely on India and Australia, or either, to climb up for any possible chance of progression as it lost both their prior games to Australia and arch-rival India by 52 runs and seven wickets respectively.

Green side next faces New Zealand on November 15.