BRISBANE: Australian women started their 2017 World Cup qualification campaign with a four-wicket win over their Pakistan counterparts in the first one-dayer at the Peter Burge Oval here on Thursday.

The start of the four-match bilateral series between the two sides also marked the launch of the new ICC Women’s Championship.

Electing to bat first, the Sana Mir-led Pakistan posted 157 all out in the stipulated 50 overs. Vice-captain Bismah Maroof (53) anchored her Pakistan’s innings, combining well with Nida Dar (40) to furnish a crucial 89-run partnership after the tourists were restricted to 33-4.

Julie Hunter (2-26), Sarah Coyte (2-27), Rene Farrell (2-28) and Jess Jonassen (2-29) evenly shared the wickets while Megan Schutt claimed 1-15.

Opener Nicole Bolton (43, four fours) helped the hosts take a solid start in their run chase. She built a steady 35-run partnership with the player-of-the-match Jess Cameron (58 not out) before she was caught and bowled by Sana Mir (3-27).

Cameron closed out the match with a six.

This series marks the first round of the inaugural ICC Women’s Championship for Australia and Pakistan. The Championship has been developed to create a more extensive and meaningful bilateral playing programme for cricket.

It will see the top eight ranked women’s teams play each other in three one-dayers between 2014 and 2016, with points being awarded for each game and the top four sides gaining automatic qualification to the 2017 Women’s World Cup to be staged in England.

The bottom four sides will have a second chance to qualify for the event through the ICC World Cup Qualifier 2017, where they will compete with six regional qualifiers for the last four available places in the tournament.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2014