KARACHI: In a gripping encounter at the National Bank Stadium on Thursday, Stars edged past Challengers by just six runs in the qualifier of the National Women’s T20 Tournament. With this hard-fought victory, Stars have secured their place in the tournament final, where they will take on Conquerors on Saturday.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Stars posted 134 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings was anchored by a match-saving performance from all-rounder Tuba Hassan, who smashed a crucial 35 off just 24 deliveries. Coming in at number six, Tuba played with aggression and composure, striking three boundaries and a six to give her team the much-needed boost in the middle overs.
Earlier in the innings, opener Huraina Sajjad contributed 34 off 32 balls, hitting four crisp boundaries. Wicketkeeper-batter Sidra Nawaz added stability with her steady 33 off 34 balls. Together, the trio carried Stars to a defendable total despite tight bowling by Challengers.
Challengers’ bowlers were impressive throughout. Their skipper Rameen Shamim led from the front with a brilliant spell of off-spin, claiming three wickets for just 14 runs. Gull Rukh provided strong support from the other end, finishing with figures of 2 for 7.
In response, Challengers had a shaky start as Shawaal Zulfiqar was trapped lbw in the very first over by fast bowler Waheeda Akhtar. However, Sadaf Shamas steadied the innings briefly, scoring a quick 27 off 20 balls with six well-timed boundaries.
The momentum shifted when Yusra Amir (45) and Natalia Parvaiz (28) stitched together a vital 54-run partnership for the third wicket. At that point, the game seemed to be tilting in Challengers’ favor.
But Stars’ spinners had other plans. Fatima Zahra turned the match on its head with a spectacular spell of off-spin, removing three key batters and conceding only 15 runs in her four overs. Her tight line and variation broke the backbone of Challengers’ middle order.
Once Natalia was dismissed by Anoosha Nasir, the pressure mounted, and wickets began to tumble. Challengers failed to recover and could only manage 128 for 8 in their T20 overs — falling just short of the target in a tense finish.
Fatima Zahra was deservedly named Player of the Match for her game-changing spell. Tuba Hassan also impressed with her all-round performance, delivering with both bat and ball.
Stars now advance to the final with momentum on their side, while Challengers bow out after a valiant effort. All eyes will be on Saturday’s final, where Stars aim to clinch the trophy against a formidable Conquerors side.
The National Women’s T20 Tournament continues to shine a light on the growing talent and competitive spirit in Pakistan’s women’s cricket scene — a positive sign for the future of the sport in the country.
