The first-ever International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup will take place in South Africa early next year. It is for the same that Pakistan aiming for a good campaign had recently announced the inaugural edition of the Women’s Under-19 T20 tournament that was played from the 13th till the 22nd of August at the Lahore Country Club, Muridke. The 10-day tournament had 6 teams take part and below is a report on the same.
Central Punjab
The side with both bat and ball were very dominant and have enjoyed a season as good as it can really get. In their opening game, they bowled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa out for 45 runs and chased it down in 7 overs with all 10 wickets in hand. In their 2nd game, Central Punjab posted a total of 221 (the highest score of the season) and then bowled Northern out for 49 to win the contest by 172 runs. Then in their 3rd game, Balochistan were all-out for 28 and Central Punjab again chased it down with all 10 wickets in hand in 3.2 overs. In the semi-final, Central Punjab scored 170 runs against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and then bowled the latter out for 68 and were through to the final with a 102-run win. In the final, Sindh were restricted to a total of 108 in 20 overs that Central Punjab in reply chased down with 4 balls to spare and with 7 wickets in hand won the inaugural edition of the U-19 tournament.
Sindh
The side had an equally good campaign as Central Punjab, but it was just the final where they couldn’t get over the line. Sindh in their opening couple matches had Northern and Southern Punjab down to totals of 44 and 39 respectively that the side chased down with 10 wickets in hand. Against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh found themselves in trouble having scored 97 runs in 20 overs, but with the ball stepped up and had Khyber 10 down with 65 on board. In the semi-final, Sindh had Southern Punjab down to 88 and in reply chased it down comfortably in 17.3 overs to head to the finals. In the final against Central Punjab, Sindh only managed a total of 108 and did manage to take the game deep but couldn’t get over the line as they lost the game in a final over thriller.
Southern Punjab
A season of two ends is what Southern Punjab had. The side started well as in their opener against Balochistan, they posted 121/7 and they then defended bowling Balochistan out for 78. In their 2nd game, they were bowled out for 39 runs and Sindh chased down the required runs with all 10 wickets in hand. In their 3rd game, the side got to a total of 126 that they defended, restricting Northern to 107. In the semi-final contest, Southern Punjab managed to get to a total of 88 in 20 overs but had Sindh chase it down in 17.3 overs denying the side a ticket to the final.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
The side’s string of poor outings with the bat came to an end with a semi-final exit. In their opening game, Khyber were bowled out for 45 runs that Central Punjab chased down with ease. In their 2nd game, Khyber bowled Balochistan out for 69 and then with ease for the loss of a wicket won the contest. In their 3rd contest, Khyber restricted Sindh to a total of 97 but in reply chasing the low total found themselves all-out for 65. In the semifinal against Central Punjab, chasing a total of 170 Khyber were bowled out for 68 and that got an end to their campaign.
Balochistan
A season of disappointments is what Balochistan has had. In the opener, the side restricted Southern Punjab to a total of 121 but failed to even get close and were bowled out for 78. In their 2nd contest, Balochistan were bowled out for another low score of 69 that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chased down. When the side played Central Punjab in their 3rd contest, they found themselves 10 down for 28 on board, marking an end to their winless season.
Northern
The side too had a poor season. In their opening game, Northern posted 44 on board for the loss of 6 wickets that Sindh comprehensively chased down. The side next played Central Punjab and chasing a big total of 221, Northern were all-out for 49. In their 3rd game, the side restricted Southern Punjab to a total of 126 but in reply fell a few short as 107 was all that Northern managed remaining winless throughout the season.
| DATE | TEAM 1 | TEAM 2 | RESULT |
| 13-Aug-22 | Central Punjab | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Central Punjab won by 10 wickets |
| Northern | Sindh | Sindh won by 10 wickets | |
| Balochistan | Southern Punjab | Southern Punjab won by 43 runs | |
| 14-Aug-22 | Southern Punjab | Sindh | Sindh won by 10 wickets |
| Balochistan | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa won by 9 wickets | |
| Central Punjab | Northern | Central Punjab won by 172 runs | |
| 16-Aug-22 | Southern Punjab | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Match Abandoned |
| Central Punjab | Sindh | Match Abandoned | |
| Balochistan | Northern | Match Abandoned | |
| 17-Aug-22 | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Northern | Match Abandoned |
| Central Punjab | Southern Punjab | Match Abandoned | |
| Balochistan | Sindh | Match Abandoned | |
| 19-Aug-22 | Sindh | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Sindh won by 32 runs |
| Southern Punjab | Northern | Southern Punjab won by 19 runs | |
| Balochistan | Central Punjab | Central Punjab won by 10 wickets | |
| 20-Aug-22 | Central Punjab | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Central Punjab won by 102 runs |
| Sindh | Southern Punjab | Sindh won by 6 wickets | |
| 22-Aug-22 | Central Punjab | Sindh | Central Punjab won by 7 wickets |
| TEAM | MATCHES | WON | LOST | NO RESULT | ABANDONED | POINTS |
| Central Punjab | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| Sindh | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| Southern Punjab | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Balochistan | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Northern | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| NAME | MATCHES | INNINGS | RUNS | AVERAGE | STRIKE RATE | HIGHEST |
| Shawal Zulfiqar | 5 | 5 | 172 | 86.00 | 137.60 | 86 |
| Eyman Fatima | 5 | 5 | 171 | 85.50 | 119.58 | 70 |
| Syeda Aroob Shah | 5 | 5 | 160 | 80.00 | 179.78 | 64 |
| Warda Yousaf | 5 | 3 | 99 | 49.50 | 117.86 | 64 |
| Aqsa Hafeez | 4 | 4 | 91 | 30.33 | 53.85 | 32 |
| Aqsa Yousaf | 4 | 4 | 67 | 22.33 | 67.00 | 25 |
| NAME | MATCHES | MAIDENS | BALLS | RUNS | WICKETS | BEST FIGURES | ECONOMY |
| Syeda Aroob Shah | 5 | 7 | 102 | 19 | 9 | 6/5 | 1.12 |
| Quratulain | 5 | 4 | 102 | 38 | 9 | 4/2 | 2.24 |
| Rida Aslam | 5 | 1 | 86 | 55 | 7 | 5/3 | 3.84 |
| Laiba Nasir | 5 | 2 | 94 | 56 | 6 | 10/3 | 3.57 |
| Dina Razvi | 5 | 3 | 78 | 44 | 5 | 4/3 | 3.38 |
Shawal Zulfiqar
Central Punjab skipper and opening batter, Sahawal scored 172 runs in 5 innings at an average of 86.00 and a strike rate of 137.60. Shawal registered scores of 14*(10), 47(26), 14*(7), 86*(64) and 11(12) in her 5 innings. The unbeaten 64-ball-86 had come in the semi-final against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which is also the highest individual score of the tournament. Skipper undoubtedly led her team from the front and got the side the title win.
Eyman Fatima
Central Punjab opener and middle order batter, Eyman Fatima finished with 171 runs in 5 innings at an average of 85.50 and a strike rate of 119.58. Eyman alongside her skipper, guided Central Punjab to win the title. Eyman registered scores of 27*(26), 28(24), 16*(6), 30(31) and 70*(66) in her 5 outings. Her mature knock of 70* off 66 balls in the final against Sindh had her win the title for her side.
Sayeda Aroob Shah
Sindh skipper, Sayeda Aroob Shah finished the season with the 3rd most (160) runs. Sayeda with the bat registered scores of 20*(15), 31*(15), 0(2), 64*(39) and 45(28) in her outings. Her 64*(39) helped her side get the ticket to the final. Sayeda with the ball finished with the most wickets (9) and had stunningly good figures of 2-1-1-0, 3-1-6-2, 4-0-6-5 (which see her as the only bowler with a 5-wicket haul in the tournament), 4-3-4-1 and 4-2-2-1.
There’s come an end to an excellent tournament that surely has Pakistan ready with a XI in their minds for the upcoming inaugural edition of the U-19 World Cup. With nearly all positives, the only negative from the tournament was the 6 abandoned matches which would have had the girls get more opportunities to express themselves.