RAWALPINDI, March 29: Karachi narrowly beat Lahore by five runs to retain the National Women Cricket Championship title here at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Put in to bat first, the Karachi women posted 181-6 in the stipulated 50 overs and then bowled Lahore out for 176 with two balls remaining.

Bismah Maroof hit a valiant 62 off 106 balls with eight boundaries in a bid to guide Lahore to victory but was stopped by the fielders and bowlers of Karachi, with two wickets each captured by Sana Mir, Javeria Khan and Misbah Butt.

Earlier, the No. 7 and No. 8 batswomen Arman Khan and Javeria Khan remained unbeaten on the highest knocks of 33 not out and 35 not out respectively, to prop up the Karachi innings. From Lahore Nazish Chaudhry grabbed 2-31 while one wicket went to Sobia Younus, Mahalka Manzoor and Bismah Maroof apiece.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf, the chief guest, gave away the prizes to Bismah Maroof of Lahore (woman of the match), Sana Mir of Karachi (emerging player of the tournament) and Javeria Khan of Karachi (woman of the tournament). —APP