RAWALPINDI: PCB Challengers clinched a nail-biting victory over PCB Blasters by just five in their preliminary-round fixture to qualify for the National Triangular T20 Women’s Cricket Championship final at the Pindi Cricket Stadium here on Saturday.

The fifth game of the event was decided on the final ball when the Blasters finished their chase for 158 at 152 for six.

The defeat has ended PCB Blasters hopes of a place in the final, which will be now played between the Challengers and the PCB Dynamites on Tuesday.

Openers Javeria Khan and Sidra Amin provided a 59-run stand before Sidra was dismissed for 18. But Javeria held the innings together with 56 from 47 balls while striking eight boundaries.

Blasters skipper Aliya Riaz kept her side in the hunt with a robust knock 37 off 31 balls before she was run out on the penultimate ball.

Sidra Nawaz (19 off 12 balls) was the other significant contributor in the Blasters total.

Earlier after electing to bat at the toss, the Challengers posted 157-7 with Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof leading the way with 61 off 48 balls. She slammed night fours and a six during player-of-the-match innings.

Fatima Sana was the other notable run-getter for the Challengers as she hit a 33-ball 41 that included four fours and a six, while sharing a sixth-wicket partnership of 54 with Bismah.

Hafsa Amjad starred for the Blasters with the ball as she picked three wickets for 27 runs.

Meanwhile, the Challengers will take on the Dynamites on Sunday, which will be now a rehearsal for the title-decider for both these outfits.

Scores in brief:

PCB CHALLENGERS 157-7 in 20 overs (Bismah Maroof 61, Fatima Sana 41, Kainat Hafeez 22; Hafsa Amjad 3-27); PCB BLASTERS 152-6 in 20 overs (Javeria Khan 56, Aliya Riaz 37).

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2020