COLOMBO: Pakistan rode on half-centuries from Nahida Khan and Javeria Khan and a disciplined bowling performance to beat Ireland Women by 86 runs in a crucial Super Six match of the Women’s World Cup Qualifier in Colombo on Friday.

India, meanwhile, booked their World Cup berth by cantering to their second successive win, defeating Bangladesh by nine wickets, while South Africa also qualified by sealing a nine-wicket victory over hosts Sri Lanka in the remaining second-round fixtures.

Pakistan, who are not yet through to the World Cup in England but have the equations in their favour, take on India in the last Super Six game at the P. Sara Oval on Sunday.

Opting to bat first at the at the Colombo Cricket Club (CCC) Ground, Pakistan made 271-5 — the second-highest team total of the tournament, and then dismissed Ireland for 185 in 48.5 overs.

Pakistan’s innings revolved around the 133-run stand that Nahida (72) and Javeria put on before the latter retired hurt on 65 at the end of the 28th over due to illness. After losing Ayesha Zafar early, the duo mixed caution with aggression to take Pakistan past the 100-run mark before the end of the 20th over.

Nahida, who hit 10 fours in her 76-ball knock, later fell to Isobel Joyce. Isobel, who has bowled both left-arm seam and left-arm spin in this tournament, finished with impressive figures of 10-1-33-1.

Nain Abidi kept up the tempo of the innings with eight fours in her 51-ball 44. She got out in the 43rd over to facilitate the return of Javeria to the crease. She seemed set for her second century of the tournament – having made an even 100 against Papua New Guinea – but could hit only three fours in her second stint to remain unbeaten on 90 in 104 balls with 14 boundaries.

Meg Kendal was caught behind early in Ireland’s chase. Cecelia Joyce (41) and Kim Garth (33) put on 74 in 22.4 overs for the second wicket, but spinner Sadia Yousuf removed both of them in successive deliveries to reduce Ireland to 91 for 3 in 27 overs.

Ireland skipper Laura Delany was caught and bowled soon after that, and the innings quickly unraveled. Isobel made 33, but she lacked support at the other end.

Sana Mir bowled Amy Kenealy for her second wicket to end the game. Nashra Sandhu was Pakistan’s most impressive bowler with figures of 10-3-25-2.

Javeria was later declared player-of-the-match.

Results of other second-round Super Six matches:

At P. Sara Oval: South Africa beat Sri Lanka by nine wickets.

SRI LANKA 142-9 in 50 overs (M.D.N. Hansika 48, G.W.H.M. Perera 26; S. Luus 3-40, D. van Niekerk 2-14); SOUTH AFRICA 145-1 in 36.1 overs (L. Wolvaardt 50 not out, S. Luus 50 not out, L. Lee 35).

At NCC Ground: India beat Bangladesh by nine wickets.

BANGLADESH 155-8 in 50 overs (Fargana Hoque 50, Sharmin Akhter 35; M. Joshi 3-25, D.P. Vaidya 2-17); INDIA 158-1 in 33.3 overs (M.R. Meshram 78 not out, M. Raj 73 not out).

Sunday’s third-round fixtures (all matches start at 9:30am PST):

India vs Pakistan (P. Sara Oval), Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh (NCC Ground), South Africa vs Ireland (CCC Ground).

Scoreboard

PAKISTAN:

Ayesha Zafar c C. Joyce b Kenealy 11 Nahida Khan c O’Reilly b I. Joyce 72 Javeria Khan not out 90 Bismah Maroof c Delany b Lewis16 Nain Abidi b O’Reilly 44 Aliya Riaz lbw b Lewis 0 Sana Mir not out 14

EXTRAS (LB-6, W-18) 24

TOTAL (for five wkts, 50 overs) 271

FALL OF WKTS: 1-22, 2-158, 3-226, 4-227, 5-229.

DID NOT BAT: Rabiya Shah, Aiman Anwar, Sadia Yousuf, Nashra Sandhu.

BOWLING: Kenealy 4-0-23-1 (5w); I.M.H.C. Joyce 10-1-33-1 (1w); O’Reilly 7-0-35-1 (5w); Metcalfe 10-0-50-0 (1w); Lewis 10-0-62-2 (1w); Garth 6-0-41-0 (1w); Kendal 3-0-21-0 (3w).

NOTE: Javeria (65) retired hurt at 155-1 and resumed at 226-3.

IRELAND:

M.F. Kendal c Rabiya b Aiman 8 C.N.I.M. Joyce c Ayesha b Sadia 41 K.J. Garth c Rabiya b Sadia 33 L. Delany c and b Bismah 7 I.M.H.C. Joyce c Bismah b Sana 33 G.H. Lewis c Aliya b Nashra 15 C.M.A. Shillington run out 12 M.V. Waldron c Sana b Nashra 15 L.K. O’Reilly run out 0 A.J. Kenealy b Sana 8 C.J. Metcalfe not out 1

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-9, NB-1) 12

TOTAL (all out, 48.5 overs) 185

FALL OF WKTS: 1-17, 2-91, 3-91, 4-103, 5-130, 6-152, 7-166, 8-167, 9-177.

BOWLING: Aiman Anwar 7-1-34-1 (1w); Nashra Sandhu 10-3-25-2 (1nb, 1w); Sana Mir 9.5-0-32-2; Aliya Riaz 4-0-20-0 (2w); Sadia Yousuf 10-0-45-2; Bismah Maroof 7-0-22-1 (1w); Javeria Khan 1-0-5-0.

RESULT: Pakistan won by 86 runs.

UMPIRES: A.K. Chaudhary (India) and K. Cross (New Zealand).

PLAYER-OF-THE-MATCH: Javeria Khan.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2017