Match no. 2 of the ongoing phase 2 of the Pakistan Cup Women’s Tournament will see Blasters and Challengers face off in a One-Day contest. The game is scheduled to be played at the State Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex, Karachi, on the 25th of May, 2023, at 9:30 AM Indian Standard Time (IST).
As Challengers gear up for their first One-Dayer of the tournament, the Blasters, who endured a crushing 9-wicket defeat in their chase of 95 against the Dynamites, will be looking to regroup and earn their first points on the board.
Squads:
Blasters – Muneeba Ali (C), Aleena Shah, Anam Amin, Ayesha Bilal, Ayesha Javed, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Dua Majid, Irum Javed, Kainat Imtiaz, Saba Nazir, Saiqa Riaz, Shabnam Hayat (WK), Zaib-un-Nissa, Zunaira Shah
Challengers – Omaima Sohail (C), Amber Kainaat, Areesha Noor, Fareeha Mehmood (WK), Fatima Zehra, Huraina Sajjad, Javeria Khan, Javeria Rauf, Kainat Hafeez, Maham Tariq, Masooma Zehra, Noreen Yaqoob, Sadia Iqbal, Saima Malik, Warda Yousaf
Players to watch out:
Ayesha Zafar
The 28-year-old opening batter, in One-Day Internationals (ODIs), has scored 176 runs in 20 innings. Ayesha’s last game for Pakistan had come back in 2021 and eyeing a return, she’s started off on the right foot with a fine 37.
Saba Nazir
The 30-year-old has played only a game for the national side and despite recording good figures wasn’t given a run. Nevertheless, Saba with figures of 27 and 1/21 (4) has started well with her return to the national set-up and the ODI debut in mind.
Javeria Khan
The 35-year-old batter in ODIs, in 113 innings has scored 2885 runs, at an average of 28.56, a strike rate of 62.62, and with 15 half-centuries and a couple of centuries to her name, has got the highest of 133*. The senior pro has 11 wickets of 14 outings to her name as well.
Sadia Iqbal
The 27-year-old left-arm spinner, in ODIs, in 13 innings has struck 12 wickets at an economy rate of 4.20 and has got the best figures of 3/4. Lately, Sadia has grown as a vital member of the senior national side, contributing consistently to the team.
Pitch:
The State Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex in Karachi dishes a good batting deck and has got an average score in the 220s. However, it poses a formidable challenge for batters during the middle overs, especially against skillful spinners.
Weather:
Despite the presence of cloudy skies, the likelihood of rain is minimal, ensuring that we can expect an uninterrupted match. The temperature is forecasted to hover around the mid-30s, with moderate winds and a humidity level of 62%.
Fantasy playing XI:
Muneeba Ali, Javeria Khan, Omaima Sohail, Ayesha Zafar, Kainat Imtiaz, Fatima Zehra, Diana Baig, Anam Amin, Masooma Zehra, Saba Nazir, Sadia Iqbal
Match details:
Date – May 25, 2023
Time – 9:30 AM IST
Venue – State Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex, Karachi
Broadcast – Access live scores for all the games in the series on the FanCode app and website.