BIRMINGHAM: The Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team’s Commonwealth Games 2022 campaign came to a disappointing conclusion when Australia defeated the national team in the group stage to hand the latter their third consecutive defeat in the event.
After losing the opening two matches against Barbados and India respectively, the Green Shirts failed to shine in their third match against Australia as well.
Following three defeats in the Group stage, Pakistan’s chances of capturing the medal ended in the cricket event.
In the match, Pakistan bowlers started on a high as they removed two Australian batters Alyssa Healy and Meg Lanning at a combined score of 19 before Beth Mooney and Tahlia McGrath scored half-centuries to bolster the side to a commendable 160/2 in the allotted 20 overs.
McGrath top-scored with a magnificent knock of 78 runs off 51 deliveries, laced with 10 boundaries and a six. Mooney, on the other hand, followed back with a brilliant 70 off 49 balls with the help of eight boundaries and a six and remained unbeaten in the process.
For Pakistan, only Fatima Sana and Sidra Iqbal managed to make one scalp each.
Set to chase 161, Pakistan’s batting line-up failed completely and could only manage to score 116/8 in 20 overs, falling 44 runs short of the target.
Captain Bismah Maroof was among the runs for her team but once again conceded too many deliveries as she scored 23 off 32 deliveries with the help of just one boundary. All-rounder Omaima Sohail, on the other hand, scored a run-a-ball 23.
Fatima bettered her 4/41 with the bat as she played an astounding and unbeaten knock of 35 runs off a mere 26 deliveries including two boundaries and as many sixes.
For Australia, McGrath also led the bowling chart with three wickets, while Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown, Jess Jonassen, and Alana King struck out a batter apiece.
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