Pakistan Blind Women’s Cricket Team played its first ever series from January 29 to February 4 against the blind women’s cricket team of Nepal at three different locations in Pakistan. The series consisted of 5 T20 matches. Nepal women have already played a series against England Blind Women’s Cricket Team. The series between Pakistan and Nepal was planned long back in 2014 but due to lack of funding, the plan could not be put into action and now in 2019, Pakistan Blind Women Cricket Team played their first ever series.
1st T20- JANUARY 29 IN LAHORE; NEPAL WON BY 10 WICKETS
Batting first, none of the Pakistan players could manage to score in double digits. 4 players got out on duck and Kiran Rafique was the highest run-scorer from Pakistan’s side with 9 runs. The hosts gave a target of 53 runs to Nepal. A much more experienced side, Nepal scored 20 runs in the first over only where opener Binita Pun scored three consecutive boundaries. Mankeshari Chaudhary scored 19 runs in 14 balls and Nepal women chased down the target in 5.3 overs. Not just with bat, but Nepal fielded also well with 8 run outs. Sarita Ghimire who took 1 wicket and contributed for 4 run outs was named Player of the Match. Binita Pun was declared Valuable Player of the Match
2nd T20- 31st JANUARY IN FAISALABAD
Due to heavy rains, the match scheduled was abandoned.
3rd T20- 2nd FEBRUARY in RAWALPINDI; NEPAL WON BY 10 WICKETS
The match which was scheduled on 1st February was postponed to 2nd February and shifted to Rawalpindi due to heavy rains in Faisalabad. Pakistan won the toss and made 102 runs in 20 overs at a loss of 6 wickets. Tayyba Bano was the top scorer with 27 runs. Nepal chased the target in 7.3 overs. Nepal openers Mankeshari Chaudhary and Binita Pun made unbeatable 58 and 34 runs respectively. Binita took 1 wicket too. Mankeshari Chaudhary was declared Player of the match and Binita Pun Valuable Player of the Match.
4th T20- 3rd FEBRUARY IN ISLAMABAD; NEPAL WON BY 9 WICKETS
Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first. They made 101 runs at a loss of 7 wickets in 20 overs. Sadia Khalid remained the top scorer from Pakistan’s side with 20 runs. Nepal chased the target of 102 runs in less than 9 overs at a fall of 1 wicket. Bimala Rai remained unbeaten at 42 runs. Nepal Blind Women’s Cricket Team sealed the series on their name by winning this match by 3-0.
5th T20- 4TH FEBRUARY IN ISLAMABAD; NEPAL WON BY 10 WICKETS
Pakistan won the toss and once again elected to bat first. The hosts set a target of 127 runs. All the 6 wickets that Pakistan Team lost were run outs. Nisha Bakhsh scored 40 runs. Nepal women won the match by chasing the target in the 11th over. Mankeshari Chaudhary again scored the highest run of the whole series by smashing 81 runs in 36 balls and was declared Player of the Match. Aasha Regi contributed for 32 runs and was given the title of Valuable Player of the Match.
Nepal is the first country to have formed a national cricket team of blind women and they continued their sheer dominance throughout the series in all the three fields, Batting, Bowling and Fielding. Muna Aryal was declared Player of the Series in B1 category, Mankeshari Chaudhary in B2 category and Binita Pun in B3 category. Kiran Rafique from Pakistan’s side was awarded with the best wicket-keeper award. Nepal Skipper, Bhagwati Bhattarai said that her team puts their best efforts in all the matches although they knew nothing about Pakistan Team as opponents as they are a newly formed team. Though Pakistan could not win a single match but Pakistan Blind Women’s Team playing their first ever series and that too at their home is a major development for Blind women’s cricket.
