Javeria sets national record, sees Pakistan to strong win against Ireland
- Javeria Khan’s career-best 74 not out helped her side post 139 for six, claim 38-run win over Ireland.
Pakistan rode on a career-best performance from captain Javeria Khan to post their highest ever total in an ICC Women’s World T20, 139 for six. The score bettered the mark of 137 they set in their previous match against India. Javeria scored an unbeaten 74 to help Pakistan to a 38-run win over Ireland, their first in the tournament.
In a match that Ireland had targeted as critical to achieving their goal of a top-eight finish, they found themselves with too much to do in the second innings. If they lose their last match against India on Thursday (15 November), they will have to go through the qualification process for the next edition of the tournament in two years time.
Both captains were happy with the outcome of the toss after Pakistan won it and chose to bat. Ireland had their moments in the powerplay, with Lucy O’Reilly bowling a maiden and Ciara Metcalfe claiming a wicket to restrict Pakistan to 21 for one. But their bowling and fielding after that lacked discipline, and the Pakistan batting never seemed under any pressure thereafter.
In these conditions, Javeria (74, 52b, 11x4) prospered, hitting aerially and intelligently to areas of the ground that were unprotected. In the company of her top order, she paced the innings brilliantly: She first stabilized with Ayesha Zafar (21, 22b, 2x4), the pair adding 37 for the second wicket. Then she built a platform with Omaima Sohail (18, 19b, 1x4)), adding 48.
Her fourth-wicket partnership, in the company of Nida Dar, was worth 34 and came off just 18 balls, helping Pakistan score 38 runs in the last four overs. Besides being her personal best, it was the highest individual score for Pakistan in all T20Is. O’Reilly deservedly picked up three late wickets, improving her figures, but not affecting the result.
As the evening and the floodlights took effect, Ireland started industriously in their reply. Clare Shillington compensated for the loss of two wickets to help Ireland to 37/2 in the Powerplay. The 37-year old, playing her last tournament for Ireland, looked set to launch a serious if single-handed challenge, before she was bowled for 27 (25b, 5x4) by Nashra Sandhu.
Isobel Joyce (30, 31b, 4x4) continued to resist, showing urgency but not finding fluency, and by the halfway mark the required run rate was touching 10-an-over. When Joyce was dismissed in the fifteenth,
Ireland’s top order was back in the hut, and the climbing run-rate proved beyond the rest. They finished with 101 for nine, giving Pakistan their biggest win in the tournament by runs.
Four bowlers took two wickets each for Pakistan, but Sandhu, returning to the XI, stood out. Her two for eight, was the most economical figures for Pakistan in the tournament history. Pakistan will now play their final game on Thursday, against New Zealand.
Scores in brief:
Pakistan defeated Ireland by 38 runs at the Guyana National Stadium in Georgetown
Pakistan: 139-6, 20 overs (Javeria Khan 74 not out, Ayesha Zafar 21; Lucy O’Reilly 3-19)
Ireland: 101-9, 20 overs (Isobel Joyce 30, Clare Shillington 27; Nashra Sandhu 2-8, Aliya Riaz 2-16, Sana Mir 2-20, Aiman Anwer 2-25)
