Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Quetta won the ninth round of the National Women’s T20 Tournament 2023-24 after all six teams played games in Islamabad and Rawalpindi at three sites. Rawalpindi reached 182-4 in the first innings thanks to captain Aliya Riaz’s unbroken century at Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium. Multan scored 155-5, losing by 27 runs. Karachi fell three short at Ayub Park Ground after limiting Lahore to 127-7. Peshawar lost by 83 runs at Diamond Cricket Ground in Islamabad against Quetta, which scored 155-4 with half-centuries from Tuba Hassan and Fareeha Mehmood.
Aliya Riaz scores National Women’s T20 Tournament 2023-24 century
Multan won the toss and bowled first in the PCB YouTube livestream. Noor-ul-Iman dismissed Rawalpindi wicketkeeper-batter Farzana Farooq for five runs in the fourth over. After Aima Saleem was run out for 18 runs, including four boundaries, Rawalpindi reached 41-2 in 5.3 overs.
Aliya Riaz and Fajar Naved’s 133-run third-wicket partnership turned the batting around for Rawalpindi. Fajar was run out for 34 off 32 balls, with three fours, by Tasmia Rubab in the last over. Next batter Natalia Parvaiz was stumped for a run on the last over.
Aliya scored an undefeated century to lead Rawalpindi to 182-4 in 20 overs. She closed the innings undefeated with 118 from 61, 17 boundaries and 4 maximums. Only Gull Rukh and Noor took wickets for Multan. The first over of the innings saw Waheeda Akhtar dismiss Aleena Masood for a golden duck.
Aliya struck on her first ball to dismiss Gull Rukh for four runs after her batting exploits. Multan captain Gull Feroza and Saiqa Riaz added 71 runs to overcome early setbacks. Gull Feroza’s 78 from 57, featuring 11 fours and a six, kept her team’s hopes alive until she fell to Aima in the 16th over. Saiqa smashed an undefeated 49 from 43, including seven fours. Each of Aima, Waheeda, Aliya, and Humna Bilal returned with one wicket. Aliya won player of the match for her flawless batting.
Lahore-Karachi at Ayub Park
Karachi skipper Fatima Sana bowled first and dismissed tournament leader Sidra Amin for a three-ball duck in the opening over. Lahore fell to 29-2 in the powerplay as off-spinner Rameen Shamim sent Sadaf Shamas (10, 11b) back in the fifth over. Bismah Maroof and Sidra Nawaz added 49 runs for the third wicket before Syeda Aroob Shah bowled Nawaz for 19 from 27. Omaima Sohail trapped Lahore captain Nida Dar leg-before for a golden duck.
Omaima dismissed Bismah for 47 from 45, including five fours, in her next over. Lahore scored 127-7 in 20 overs with Iram Javed (18, 20b, 2x4s) and Ayesha Zafar (22, 12b, 4x4s) also contributing. Fatima and Omaima took two wickets each, while Rameen and Aroob took one. Ali and Khan shared a 41-run opening stand until left-arm spinner Nashra Sundhu dismissed Khan for 18 on 14, with three fours.
On Nashra’s following ball, Omaima was caught behind for a golden duck. Yusra Amir and Muneeba shared a 47-run third-wicket stand. The breakthrough came when Ghulam Fatima dismissed Muneeba (37, 35b, 6x4s) in the 13th over. Bismah gave Karachi captain Fatima a golden duck in the next over. Nida removed Yusra (35, 41b, 2x4s) to make 103-5 in 16.4 overs. Rameen and Aiman Anwar also fell for golden ducks after Nashra hit twice. Najiha Alvi (9, 6b, 1×4), Aroob (8, 11b), and Huraina Sajjad (8 not out, 7b) contributed runs but failed to convert. Karachi lost by three runs after scoring 124-9 in 20 overs.
