Bowlers, Sidra Amin, Bismah Maroof help Pakistan clinch ODI series against Ireland

author-image
Shajin Mohanan S
New Update
Bowlers, Sidra Amin, Bismah Maroof help Pakistan clinch ODI series against Ireland

Pakistan celebrate a wicket © PCB

All-round bowling performance and in-form Sidra Amin headlined Pakistan’s convincing win in the second ODI at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday (November 6). Bismah Maroof also played her part with an unbroken 136-run partnership for the second wicket as her side won the ODI series with a match to spare.



Although Laura Delany won the toss and opted to bat, Ireland’s fortunes didn’t change as they lost Leah Paul in the opening over with Fatima Sana castling her for a duck. Amy Hunter looked in pristine touch and started with three boundaries off Kainat Imtiaz. The 17-year-old drove effortlessly through the off side and was looking good for more.



At the other end, Gaby Lewis ran herself out with Aliya Riaz hitting the stumps at the non-striking end. Hunter fell against the run play when she was caught by Maroof off Nashra Sundhu and Ireland were reduced to 43 for 3 in the 11th over.



From there, Delany and Orla Prendergast added 47 runs as the latter played a few big shots to take steady the innings. That included a big six over long-on off Sandhu and Ireland needed the pair to bat for a longer period. However, leg spinner Ghulam Fatima struck twice to remove both the set betters and Sundhu also had two more scalps in the form of Eimear Richardson and Rachel Delaney.



Ireland were reeling at 122 for 7 at this stage and it required some lower order resistance from Mary Waldron and Arlene Kelly for them to recover to post a moderate total. Waldron made 35 off 57 balls while Kelly contributed with 34 off 45 balls.



Eventually Sana came back and dismissed Ireland’s last batter Cara Murray in the 48th over as the visitors were bowled out for 194.



For Pakistan, Fatima and Sundhu took three wickets apiece while Sana picked up two wickets.



ALSO READ: Sidra Amin, Muneeba Ali help Pakistan to mammoth win against Ireland in series opener



Amin and Muneeba Ali, heroes of the first game, started in similar fashion and scored 51 runs from the power play with five boundaries to their name. Post the power play, Amin looked to build on her innings, however, Ali fell when she tried to take on Richardson and was caught at deep mid-wicket by Lewis for 27.



Her partner’s departure didn’t stop Amin and she continued to make merry on her recent good form and she found another company in skipper Bismah Maroof. Amin hit Richardson for a couple of boundaries as she sped on her way to yet another fifty.

She eventually brought it up with a four off Delaney through extra-cover.



None of the bowlers were spared even as Delany tried eight bowling options and the duo picked up two more fours in the 23rd over bowled by Murray. On a wicket that offered them little assistance, Ireland bowlers struggled to keep up the runs down and couldn’t force the issue against the Pakistan batters.



In the 27th over, Maroof shifted gears and took down the left-arm spin of Paul with four boundaries off the over. That flurry of fours meant Pakistan brought up their 150-run mark and were firmly in the driving seat. A single off Kelly in the next over took Maroof to her fifty – a stroke-filled one with seven fours to her name.



By this stage, it only seemed a matter of time before Pakistan romped home and they didn’t much time to win the match and the series. In the 33rd over, Amin drove Delany for a couple of bring up the winning runs. She remained not out on 91 while Maroof was unbeaten on 69 at the other end.



Brief Scores: Ireland 194/10 in 47.2 overs (Mary Waldron 35, Arlene Kelly 34; Ghulam Fatima 3/32, Nashra Sundhu 3/41) lost to Pakistan 195/1 in 32.4 overs (Sidra Amin 91*, Bismah Maroof 69*) by nine wickets
Subscribe