Pakistan left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu has become just the second woman cricketer to get dismissed hit-wicket. With this, she is also now the third Pakistani cricketer to be dismissed in a World Cup match after Misbah-ul-Haq and Imam-ul-Haq.
The incident occurred during the 35th over of the first innings in the match against Bangladesh in the ongoing Women’s Cricket World Cup held at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium.
Coming in at No. 9, Sandhu managed to claim a single run for the team, after which she attempted to play a full-length delivery from Bangladeshi bowler Shorna Akter. Failing to hit the ball, it was her willow that accidentally touched the stumps, leading to her dismissal.
Lynette Smith, before Sandhu, was the first woman cricketer to get dismissed hit-wicket. The incident happened while representing the International XI against Trinidad & Tobago at Aigburth, Liverpool, back in 1973, the inaugural Women’s World Cup.
In the third match of the ICC Women’s World Cup, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first. Pakistan Women suffered early dismissals after Bangladesh’s bowler Marufa Akter took the strike, claiming two wickets of openers Omaima Sohail and Sidra Amin, leaving Pakistan at 2/2 in the powerplay. Muneeba Ali (17 runs off 35 balls) and Rameen Shamim (23 off 39 balls) were the only batters who managed resistance.
The team struggled to score 100 runs, which they did in 30 overs, with a total of 14 boundaries scored. Pakistan’s middle order did a fairly decent performance, including Aliya Riaz (13 off 43), Sidra Nawaz (15 off 20), and captain Fatima Sana (22 off 33). Pakistan’s Diana Baig remained not out at 16 runs off 22 balls.
Pakistan, however, failed to convert their starts against the fierce and disciplined bowling line-up of Bangladesh Women, resulting in their all-out for 129 in 38.3 overs. Pacer Marufa Akter (2/31), spinner Nahida Akter (2/19), and all-rounder Shorna (3/5) were the highlights of the first innings. Pakistan’s Diana Baig remained not out at 16 runs off 22 balls.
For Bangladesh, the 130-run target was an effortless chase for its batters. After losing Fargana Hoque for 2 runs, then came a dominating performance from Rubya Haider, who scored an unbeaten half-century (54 runs off 77 balls), including eight boundaries. She led the game ahead with a crucial partnership of 62 runs with skipper Nigar Sultana, who scored 23 runs off 44 balls.
(Stat sourced from Hypocaust)
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