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Karachi, 19 May 2025: Skipper Fatima Sana led Conquerors to a 31-run victory over Strikers with an unbeaten 41 with the bat and 3-23 with the ball as the latter were restricted to 110-9 in their 20 overs at the National Bank Stadium on Monday evening.
Conquerors are now placed at the top of points table with five wins in seven games and they will face second-placed Stars on Tuesday in the last round.
While chasing the 142-run target, Strikers managed to score 15 from the first two overs before losing skipper Gull Feroza to Humna Bilal on the first delivery of the third over. Fatima then removed Zoofishan Ayyaz (9, 10b, 1x4) as she partnered with Noreen Yaqoob for a 30-run second-wicket stand.
Syeda Aroob Shah, who returned figures of 4-0-24-3, struck to take three quick wickets including the prized scalp of Eyman Fatima for a golden duck as Strikers slumped to 56-5 in 8.1 overs.
Opening batter Noreen and No. 8 batter Soha Fatima (14, 26b) then tried to repair the damage with a 45-run partnership for the sixth wicket before Soha was undone by Fatima, who also removed Diana Baig on the subsequent ball.
Noreen’s valiant 58-ball 65 not out inclusive of six fours and one six went in vain as Strikers fell short.
Earlier, Conquerors got off to a slow start as they lost both the opening batters for 29 after 6.2 overs. Hafsa Khalid and Najiha Alvi then put together a 46-run partnership to steady the ship before the latter returned for an 18-ball 16 including a boundary.
Fatima walked in to bat in the 14th over and lifted her side to 141 for 5 in 20 overs with a blistering 41 off just 22 balls, smashing three fours and two sixes and taking her tally of runs in the ongoing tournament to 335 in seven matches – 15 better of the second placed Sidra Amin
For strikers, Noreen Yaqoob bagged three scalps after giving away 22 runs in her four overs.
In the other match of the ninth round, bowlers ensured a close seven-run victory for Challengers over Invincibles, who finished their campaign in the tournament with only two wins in eight matches. In pursuit of 162-run target, Invincibles got off to a strong start collecting 53 runs after six overs, however, Zaib-un-Nisa Niaz landed the first blow as she got rid of skipper Muneeba Ali (30, 20b, 2x4s, 2x6s).
Ayesha Zafar (49, 37b, 8x4s) and Omaima Sohail (39, 31b, 4x4s) then stitched a 54-run partnership as Invincibles looked in control before Tasmia Rubab dismissed the latter sparking a collapse, where they lost five wickets for 35 runs and eventually fell eight runs short of the target.
For Challengers, all five bowlers picked up one wicket each with Rameen Shamim and Rabia Rani returning identical figures of 4-0-23-1.
After winning the toss and batting first, Challengers lost both the openers inside three overs with 13 runs on the board. Yusra Amir (27, 24b, 1x4) and Natalia Pervaiz then did the repair work with a 55-run third-wicket stand before Yusra was trapped leg-before by Amber Kainat.
Player of the match Natalia (47, 39b, 5x4s, 1x6) and Aliya Riaz then put on 45 runs for the fourth wicket before the latter perished for a 16-ball 27 comprising three fours and one maximum.
Rameen chipped in with an unbeaten cameo of 22 runs taking just 11 balls with the help of three fours to lift her side to 161-9 in 20 overs.
Challengers are now placed third on the points table with four wins out of seven matches and face the prospect of a must-win match on Tuesday against the fourth-placed Strikers, who have six points to their name.
Scores in brief:
Match 17: Conquerors beat Strikers by 31 runs at the National Bank Stadium
Conquerors 141-5, 20 overs (Hafsa Khalid 42, Fatima Sana 41 not out, Saira Jabeen 22; Noreen Yaqoob 3-22)
Strikers 110-9, 20 overs (Noreen Yaqoob 65 not out; Fatima Sana 3-23, Syeda Aroob Shah 3-24)
Player of the match – Fatima Sana (Conquerors)
Match 18: Challengers beat Invincibles by seven runs at the Oval Academy Ground
Challengers 161-9, 20 overs (Natalia Parvaiz 47, Aliya Riaz 27, Yusra Amir 27, Rameen Shamim 22 not out; Omaima Sohail 2-23, Neha Sharmin Nadeem 2-32)
Invincibles 154-6, 20 overs (Ayesha Zafar 49, Omaima Sohail 39, Muneeba Ali 30; Rameen Shamim 1-23, Rabia Rani 1-23)
Player of the match – Natalia Pervaiz (Challengers)
10th round fixtures, Tuesday, 20 May: (both matches to begin at 3pm PKT)
Match 19: Strikers v Challengers at National Bank Stadium
Match 20: Stars v Conquerors at Oval Academy Ground
