The 2nd Twenty20 International (T20I) of the 3-match series between hosts Australia and Pakistan at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart saw Pakistan’s misery with the bat continue as hosts Australia put on yet another dominant win to seal the series 2-0, with a game in hand.
1st innings: Pakistan – 96/7 (20.0)
Pakistan batting first had Javeria Khan depart early on 4(8) with 17 on board in the 5th over, and the pair of Muneeba Ali and skipper, Bismah Maroof rebuilt Pakistan’s innings. The 35-run stand between the pair saw curtains in the 11th over with Muneeba departing on 33(43). It wasn’t long before Pakistan lost its 3rd in the 13th over with 59 on board as Nida Dar (5) departed. The pair of Ayesha Naseem (5) and Aliya Riaz (2) too soon followed and the middle-order collapse saw Pakistan reduced to 70/5 in the 16th over. Maroof held her ground watching it all unfold and finally, had a partnership (18-run) alongside Omaima Sohail who departed for 10 (12). Skipper, Maroof reminded unbeaten on 29 (28) and helped Pakistan post a respectful total of 96.
Australia with the ball had as many as 9 players roll their arm and in the wickets column featured, Alana King with her 2/10 (2) and Grace Harris, Annabel Sutherland, Jess Jonassen, Ashleigh Gardner, and Darcie Brown follow having bagged a wicket each.
2nd innings: Australia – 100/2 (12.4)
Australia in reply had Meg Lanning get going straightaway while fellow opener, Beth Mooney patiently got the chase underway and after having spent sufficient time in the middle, Mooney looked to free arms. Despite having started well, Meg Lanning couldn’t continue at the same pace and departed in the 8th over on 31(32) with 60 on board. Beth struck a cluster of boundaries and from 25 off 21 raced to 46 off 28 before departing on the next ball with 89 on board in the 11th over. Tahlia McGrath sealed the win for Australia with a boundary in the 13th over and alongside Ashleigh Gardner (5* off 5) finished unbeaten on 14*(10) to guide Australia to an 8-wicket win.
Pakistan with the ball had Nida Dar bag both the Australian wickets and finished on figures of 2/27 off her 4 and Fatima Sana emerged as the economical one with figures of 0/17 off her 3.
No quick fix here for Pakistan as the side’s cricket continues to keep fading with women’s cricket as a whole with sides like India, England, Australia, and New Zealand, already playing the dominating game. A complete transformation of Pakistan women’s team, right from the international set-up to domestic, including coaching staff, is the only way ahead for Pakistan’s women’s team cricket to flourish as there’s a lot of catching up to do.
