ISLAMABAD: Super Women sealed a commanding eight-wicket win over Amazons in the first Women’s League exhibition match on Wednesday, thanks to an all-round effort by skipper Nida Dar and Laura Wolvaardt’s unbeaten 53.
Nida Dar picked up three wickets before returning to the crease to score 23 not-out to take her side home with 25 balls to spare.
South Africa’s Wolvaardt, however, led the batting charge for Super Women as she smashed six fours and a maximum on the final ball to bring up her fifty.
The two gathered an unbeaten 68-run partnership after openers Muneeba Ali and Chamari Athapathtu set the tone of the chase with handsome knocks of 33 and 23 respectively.
Electing to bat first, Bismah Maroof-led Amazons managed 132/9 in the 20 overs with the help of Aliya Riaz’s sensible knock of 38 from 35 balls.
The overseas opening pair of Tammy Beaumont and Danni Wyatt gave Amazons a flourishing start as they raised 46 on board before Syeda Masooma Zehra found the breakthrough in the final over of the powerplay. England’s Beaumont was shown the exit after she struck 24 with help of four boundaries.
Wyatt followed the suit and three balls later handed her wicket to Super Women’s captain Dar at 22. Amazons’ skipper Bismah was dismissed cheaply by Umme Hani in the 7th over.
Tuba Hasan made her presence felt in the middle overs as he removed England’s Maia Bouchier and Australia’s Tess Flintoff on 18 and 2 respectively.
Aliya then held the fort for her team and made 38 from 35 balls while wickets kept on tumbling from the other end. She left the crease in the 18th over after steering her side to 120.
Dar made back-to-back strikes in the 19th over, dismissing Fatima Sana (13) and Nashra Sandhu to keep Amazons under check.
