Nida Dar achieves major milestone in T20I cricket

MULTAN: Veteran Pakistan all-rounder Nida Dar on Wednesday, added another feather to her cap as she completed 2000 runs in Women’s T20Is.

Dar achieved the feat in Pakistan’s 13-run victory over South Africa in the second Women’s T20I of the three-match series here at Multan Cricket Stadium.

Nida Dar played a pivotal role in leading Pakistan to their highest-ever score in Women’s T20Is. The right-handed batter scored an anchoring 29 off 21 deliveries with the help of four boundaries.

Dar became only the third Pakistan batter to breach the 2000-run barrier in the shortest format with Javeria Khan and Bismah Maroof the only other batters to have achieved the feat.

Maroof holds the record for scoring the most runs for Pakistan in the format (2893), followed by Javeria, who has 2018 runs to her name.

In the overall list, however, Nida Dar is the 23rd batter to accumulate 2000 runs in Women’s T20Is.

New Zealand’s Suzie Bates is the only batter with more than 4000 runs in the format, having scored 4348 runs.

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Coming back to the match, an all-round performance led Pakistan to a series-levelling victory over South Africa, who clinched the series opener by 10 runs.

Wicketkeeper batter Muneeba Ali led the charge with the bat, top-scoring with a well-crafted 45 off just 34 deliveries with the help of eight boundaries including two sixes.

She was supported by skipper Fatima Sana (37*), Nida Dar (29) and Sidra Amin (28) as Pakistan notched up a massive total on the board after being put into bat first.

In response, South Africa could score 168/4 in their allotted overs despite Sune Luus’ gutsy half-century.

The right-handed batter took the fight to the Pakistan bowlers at the backend and brought her side into touching distance with an unbeaten 80-run partnership with Chloe Tryon.

The visitors needed 23 runs off the final over but Fatima’s concussion replacement Tasmia Rubab displayed nerves of steel and only leaked nine runs to deny South Africa a comeback victory.

Luus remained the top-scorer for South Africa with a 29-ball 53 while Tryon made 30 not out.

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