KARACHI: Bismah Maroof continued her dream run against the touring Bangladesh women’s cricket team with a sparkling innings of 92 as hosts Pakistan sealed a 20-run win in the first of two One-day Internationals at the Southend Club Cricket Stadium here on Sunday.

The 24-year-old left-hander from Lahore held together the home side’s innings until she was eight out at 208 after Pakistan captain Sana Mir won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat first.

Pakistan were dismissed for 214 on the penultimate ball of their 50-over innings when Anam Amin became the third player to be run out.

Pakistan lost Sidra Amin for 12 in the seventh over when she offered a return catch to Bangladesh skipper Salma Khatun. Javeria Khan Wadood perished after striking three boundaries while scoring 21 off 34 deliveries.

Nain Abidi hit one four in making 27 from 45 balls as she helped Bismah put on 61 — the highest partnership of the match — for the third wicket.

The hosts then lost two wickets in quick successions, including that of their skipper, Sana, who was dismissed for a six-ball duck.

The experienced Nida Dar made a breezy 21 with her 22-ball knock containing three hits to the fence as she outscored Bismah during their 29-run stand for the sixth wicket.

Asmavia Iqbal (13) also played a crucial role by helping Bismah add 36 for the seventh wicket.

Bismah was finally out after hitting eight boundaries in her 128-ball innings that earned her third successive player-of-the-match prize following two such awards in the preceding T20 International series which Pakistan won 2-0. Bismah was adjudged T20 player-of-the-series as well.

Salma was Bangladesh’s most successful wicket-taker with three for 31 in 10 overs.

Bangladesh’s mainstay during their run chase — which ended with tourists reaching 194-9 in 50 overs — was the bespectacled all-rounder Rumana Ahmed who batted superbly to score 70 from 97 deliveries. She stroked four boundaries.

Anam Amin was the pick of Pakistan’s bowlers with excellent analysis of three for 25 from 10 overs of orthodox left-arm spin.

The second and final one-dayer will be played at the same venue on Tuesday.

Brief scores:

PAKISTAN 214 in 49.5 overs (Bismah Maroof 92, Nain Abidi 27, Javeria Khan Wadood 21, Nida Dar 21; Salma Khatun 3-31); BANGLADESH 194-9 in 50 overs (Rumana Ahmed 70, Fargana Hoque 26, Shamima Sultana 24, Jahanara Alam 23; Anam Amin 3-25).

Published in Dawn, October 5th , 2015

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