KARACHI: Pakistan cruised to a 168-run win over Zimbabwe in the first Women’s ODI of the three-match series at the National Bank Stadium on Monday.
Chasing a tough 331, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 162 in 36.4 overs.
Beloved Pisa top-scored for Chevrons with 53 off eight fours.
Opener Kelis Nathlov scored 31 off 47 balls, including 5 fours, but the rest of the batting line-up failed to make a significant impact.
For Pakistan, captain Fatima Sana, Tasmiya Rupab and Syeda Arup Shah took 2 wickets each and Momina Riyasad and Nashra Sandhu took one wicket each.
Earlier, Pakistan top-order batsmen Sadaf Shams, Gul Feroza and Chitra Amin scored big fifties, powered by Najiha Alvi’s superb performance, and posted a huge score.
The wicketkeeper-batsman scored Pakistan’s fastest ODI fifty to reach the milestone in 24 balls.
Openers Shamas and Feroza dominated the Zimbabwean bowling and laid a strong foundation with an aggressive start. The duo put on a combined 162, with both batsmen recording well-crafted fifties to put Pakistan firmly in control.
Kutsai Sikora eventually broke the partnership as he dismissed Feroza with 50 off 60 balls in the 29th over.
Shamas continued to anchor the innings and looked set for a century but fell in agony, scoring 98 off 130 balls with 17 boundaries.
He was dismissed by Precious Marange, who dismissed Ayesha Zafar shortly after to reduce Pakistan to 195-3.
Maaranj picked up his third wicket by dismissing Alia Riaz and halting Pakistan’s momentum briefly in the middle overs.
Chitra Amin scored a fluent 67 off 59 balls with 9 fours to steady the innings, while Alvi provided a swift delay. The pair put on 96 runs for the 5th wicket to take Pakistan past 300 runs.
Alvi remained unbeaten on 56 off 30 balls with 8 fours and a six, while Fatima Sana added 11 runs off three balls including a four and a six to give the innings a strong finish.
Precious Marange bowled well for Zimbabwe and took 3 wickets for 39 runs in 10 overs.