LAHORE: Scintillating half-centuries by captain Bismah Maroof and opener Javeria Khan helped Pakistan take an unassailable 2-0 lead in their three-match women’s Twenty20 International series against Bangladesh at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Monday.

The hosts, who won the opening fixture by 14 runs on Saturday, completed a 15-run victory in game two, with the final match scheduled at the same venue on Wednesday.

Put into bat by Bangla­desh captain Salma Khatun at the toss, Pakistan piled up an imposing 167-3 as Bismah struck a quickfire 70 with her 50-ball knock including nine fours and one six. Javeria also excelled by contributing a breezy 52 from 44 deliveries with the aid of five boundaries and two sixes, while adding 95 in 71 deliveries for the second wicket with player-of-the-match Bismah

Bangladesh showed spirited resistance in their chase despite losing three wickets at the top for only 25 runs. They did well to reach 152-7 in the end thanks to fine batting from Sanjida Islam (45 off 32 balls, eight fours) and Fargana Hoque (a 19-ball 30, four fours).

Sajinda and Fargana shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 57 before slow left-armer Sadia Iqbal separated them by having Sanjida well caught by Anam Amin at deep cover.

Fargana, however, stood firm but she could not find any reliable partner as Nigar Sultana (21) and Rumana Ahmad (0) went quickly. While Rumana was tragically run out, Nigar fell to Sadia, who finished with fine analysis of 3-19.

After Fargana got out, Lata Mondal (17) and Jahanara Alam (18) put on 21 in only nine balls with remaining unbeaten.

Brief scores:

PAKISTAN 167-3 in 20 overs (Bismah Maroof 70, Javeria Khan 52, Sidra Ameen 19; Jahanara Alam 2-27); BANGLADESH 152-7 in 20 overs (Sanjida Islam 45, Fargana Hoque 30, Nigar Sultana 21; Sadia Iqbal 3-19, Anam Amin 1-24, Diana Baig 1-27, Sana Mir 1-35).

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2019