In the previous game, Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana Joty led from the front with her maiden ODI century (101 off 80 balls) and was also awarded the Player of the Match for her decisive effort. But it was the spin duo of Fahima Khatun and Jannatul Ferdus that hogged the limelight as they became the first pair to register their maiden five-wicket hauls in a single women’s ODI.
The hosts Pakistan led by skipper Fatima Sana were all set to face Scotland led by skipper Kathryn Bryce in the 6th match of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup Qualifiers 2025. The game was eventually reduced to a 32 overs per side contest due to a delayed start courtesy of rain.
Kathryn Bryce stands tall with a 91 to take Scotland to a respectable total
The new-ball bowlers sent both the Scotland openers Abbi Aitken-Drummond and Pieppa Sproul back to the pavilion inside the first five overs of the innings after skipper Fatima Sana won the toss and opted to field first at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground, Lahore.
The Bryce sisters, wicket-keeper Sarah and skipper Kathryn partnered at the crease and the duo led the recovery with a much-needed 51-run partnership for the 3rd wicket. Nashra Sandu broke the stand, by sending wicket-keeper batter Sarah Bryce (21 off 25 balls) back to the pavilion to provide the 3rd breakthrough for Pakistan.
Ailsa Lister joined skipper Kathryn Bryce at the crease and Lister led the counterattack as the duo took their side past the 120-run mark courtesy of their brisk 55-run partnership for the 4th wicket. Sadia Iqbal broke the ominous stand by sending Ailsa Lister (31 off 24 balls) back to the pavilion in the 23rd over of the innings, providing the 4th breakthrough for the home side.
Skipper Kathryn Bryce continued to take a positive approach and found gaps at regular intervals to keep the scoreboard moving. However, she kept losing partners from the other end, and as a result, the innings failed to find any consistent momentum to elevate the scoring rate. Skipper Kathryn Bryce (91 off 96 balls) was cleaned up by her opposite number Fatima Sana on the final ball of the innings as Scotland posted a competitive total of 186/9 in their quota of 32 overs.
She etched her name into the history books as she registered the highest individual score by a Scotland skipper in Women’s ODIs. Katherine Fraser (11 off 13 balls) was the only other batter apart from Ailsa Lister and wicket-keeper batter Sarah Bryce to enter into the double digits with the bat for Scotland.
Skipper Fatima Sana (5-0-23-4), led from the front with the ball, while Sadia Iqbal (7-1-43-2), Nashra Sandhu (7-1-31-1), and Diana Baig (4-0-31-1) provided impressive support from the other end for Pakistan.
Twin Fifties from Aliya Riaz and Muneeba Ali guide Pakistan over the line
Chasing a target of 187, the home side lost their opening batter Gull Feroza early in the 4th over of the run chase, and a string of low scores continued for the opening batter. Katherine Fraser provided the first breakthrough for Scotland.
Sidra Amin joined Muneeba Ali at the crease and the duo led some sort of a recovery with a 29-run partnership for the 2nd wicket. Chloe Abel provided the 2nd breakthrough for her side in the 8th over of the run chase. Aliya Riaz joined opening batter Muneeba Ali at the crease and the duo settled the nerves with a much-needed 93-run partnership for the 3rd wicket, taking them closer to the 130-run mark.
Chloe Abel returned and broke the ominous stand by sending the opening batter Muneeba Ali (71 off 72 balls) in the 24th over of the innings, providing a crucial 3rd breakthrough for Scotland. She completed her brisk half-century before getting dismissed. The home side, Pakistan eventually got over the line with six wickets in hand and 8 balls to spare. Aliya Riaz stayed unbeaten on 68* (70 balls) completing a brisk half-century to guide her side over the line in the run chase.
Chloe Abel (6-0-42-2), Katherine Fraser (7-0-29-1), and Rachel Slater (5.4-0-39-1) were the wicket-takers for Scotland. Aliya Raiz was awarded the Player of the Match for her match-winning innings with the bat for her side as Pakistan sealed back-to-back victories.
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