ZTBL triumph in Departmental T20 Women's Cricket Championship

While Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Pakistan Cricket Board XI (PCB XI) struggled, ZTBL and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) established their dominance.
ZTBL had been touted as the favourites going into the tournament, and with good reason. Not only did they boast some of the most prominent batters in the national squad in Javeria Khan and Bismah Maroof- they also had the national sides' most experienced campaigner in their skipper Sana Mir. It was largely thought that ZTBL would blaze through the tournament undefeated to lift the trophy for yet another time, however SBP, under the captaincy of Aliya Riaz, had other plans.
In the fourth match of the tournament, the underdogs, SBP, pulled off a major upset. Having restricted the reigning champions (ZTBL) to 136, led by opener Javeria Rauf (60), SBP recorded a thrilling last ball win over their opponents. With five wickets and no balls to spare, SBP crossed the line to establish themselves as a true threat in the tournament.
This rivalry grew in the second round when ZTBL bounced back to register a mammoth 58-run win over the same opposition. A 91-run stand between J. Khan (57) and Nahida Khan (52) ensured ZTBL posted a challenging 171-5 on the board. A three-wicket haul for Fatima Sana then restricted SBP to just 113-8, with ZTBL getting their revenge.
The two teams, who dropped one match each, then clashed in the final. With the head-to-head tally squared, this match would be the decider. This time too, experience outshone youth as ZTBL cruised to a 17-run win, but not before SBP put up a valiant fight.
ZTBL took control of the match early with openers Muneeba Ali (35) and Player of the Match J. Khan (64) putting on a century partnership. J. Khan was particularly destructive, scoring her runs off just 37 deliveries. Following her wicket, Maroof continued the onslaught, smashing 28 runs of just 15 balls, before being run out. These contributions meant ZTBL finished their innings on a competitive 171-7.
In reply, SBP opener Rauf got off to a solid start, remaining unbeaten on 55 at the end of the innings. Throughout the chase she had support from several players. Iram Javed added 32 runs to the tally before Riaz scored a quickfire 10-ball 26. However, ZTBL did not allow their opponents to get a big partnership going, which is essential while chasing a challenging total. This meant that despite a brave effort from SBP, they wound up 17 runs short of the target.
ZTBL claimed the trophy yet again, adding to the one they won in the previous edition. For her 240 runs in the tournament, J. Khan was adjudged Player of the Tournament too.