Pakistan women enter top four

KARACHI: Pakistan women cricket team’s journey in the ICC Women’s Championship 2017-20 culminated in the Bismah Maroof-led side breaking into the top-four of the eight-team tournament standings with their third ODI against England women getting washed out in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.

Pakistan were in a tight race with South Africa, who still have six matches to go in the tournament, with only one point separating them. Pakistan got that point as the third ODI was washed out and by the virtue of having a better net run-rate they leapfrogged South Africa to the fourth spot. Pakistan lost the series 2-0.

Pakistan’s campaign began in October 2017 with a three-ODI home series against New Zealand women. Though Pakistan lost the series 2-1, they made history in the final one-dayer by beating New Zealand for the first time on the back of Sana Mir’s four-fer. With seven wickets at an average of 14.57 in three matches, the right-arm off-spinner was the leading wicket-taker in the series.

Pakistan’s second assignment in the ICC Women’s Championship was the tour of Sri Lanka in March 2018 where they recorded their first-ODI series win since October 2015. Sana Mir, leading from front, rolled over the opposition taking 10 wickets at a phenomenal average of 8.80 in three matches.