Sana Mir, who is unequivocally considered to be one of the finest Pakistan women cricketers decided to hang her boots on April 25. The former captain featured in 226 international matches and had a phenomenal record over her 14-year long career from 2005-2019. Paying her a tribute, here’s a look at five of her top performances across T20s and ODIs:
#1. T20I hat trick:
Sana Mir scalped a T20I hat trick in a bilateral series against Sri Lanka in the second T20I at Sharjah on January 16, 2015. Her wickets included Kanchana (bowled), Samuddika (LBW), and Ranaweera (LBW). Defending 125, under the able aegis of Mir, Pakistan bowled out Sri Lanka for a paltry 69 in 15.3 overs, winning the match by 55 runs.
#2. 4-13 against Ireland in a T20I:
In 2009, the year when Sana Mir made her debut, she picked up her first four-wicket haul in a T20I. This feat came against Ireland in Dublin on May 28, 2009. The then skipper led from the front as she wreaked havoc with her four-fer that helped her team reduce Ireland to 86-9 in 20 overs. She clean bowled two and had two LBWs. Her stats read four overs, no maidens, 4-13. Pakistan won that match by three wickets. Mir has another four-wicket haul and that is against India (4-13) during the T20 Asia Cup in 2012, in which her team ended on the losing side.
#3. 48 not out against Sri Lanka in a T20I:
In the same match when Sana Mir picked up a hat-trick, she made her highest T20I score. On January 16, 2015, against Sri Lanka at Sharjah, Mir scored an unbeaten 48 that helped her side cross the 120-run mark. The right-hand bat scored a quickfire 48 in 37 balls at a strike rate of 129.72, smashing four boundaries. She led her side to a 55-run win.
#4. 5 wicket-haul against the Netherlands in an ODI:
During ICC Women’s Cricket Challenge, the right arm off-break bowler picked up a fifer against the Netherlands at Potchefstroom on October 9, 2010. Defending 258, Sana Mir, and co. bundled out the opposition for 213 in 45 overs, winning the match by 45 runs. Mir led the Pakistan bowling attack as she scalped a five-wicket haul giving away just 32 runs in nine overs at an economy of 3.55. Her wickets included one stump out, one caught out, two LBWs, and one bowled.
#5. ODI half-century against Sri Lanka in a winning cause:
Sana Mir hit a match-winning 51 against Sri Lanka during the ICC Women’s Championship at Sharjah on January 13, 2015. Her unbeaten knock came off 68 balls that guided her team to a seven-wicket win. Chasing 243, Pakistan comfortably achieved the target in 47.2 overs. Apart from this half-century, Mir has two more half-centuries, however, they are in losing cause.
I am a former cricketer having represented Mumbai University at All India University level. I was a part of MCA probables for the U-19 and U-23 age group. I have been an avid cricket writer for the last five years. Currently I am pursuing my Ph.D from IIT Bombay.