RAWALPINDI: Skipper Sidra Amin scored an anchoring half-century and led Stars to beat Conquerors by five wickets and clinch the National Women’s One-Day Tournament 2024 title here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Opting to bat first, the Conquerors only managed 178/9 in 45 overs despite an anchoring third-wicket partnership between Dua Majid and Hafsa Khalid.
The duo added 58 runs amid their crucial partnership before both perished in quick succession, bringing the total down to 140/4 in 37.2 overs.
Hafsa remained the top-scorer for the Conquerors with a 78-ball 47, while Dua made 40 from 66 balls with the help of three boundaries.
Following their dismissals, the Conquerors ran into a match-defining collapse, which had reduced them to 154/7 in 40.4 overs.
Wicketkeeper batter Najiha Alvi then added valuable runs at the backend with a run-a-ball 23 before falling victim to Waheeda Akhtar in the 45th.
Waheeda was the standout bowler for the Stars, picking up three wickets, followed by Rameen Shamim and Tuba Hassan with two each.
Chasing a modest 179-run target, the Stars comfortably knocked the winning runs for the loss of five wickets and 40 balls to spare.
Leading the way was their skipper Sidra, who top-scored with an 84-ball 77, studded with a dozen boundaries including a six. For her match-winning knock, Sidra was adjudged the player of the match in the final.
Besides her, Rameen was the other notable contributor as she scored an unbeaten 37 off 83 deliveries, showcasing her all-round brilliance.
For the Conquerors, Nashra Sandhu bagged two wickets, while Dua, Mahnoor Aftab and Fatima Sana, chipped in with a wicket apiece.
Upon their National Women’s One-Day Tournament title victory, Sidra Ameen-led Stars were rewarded with a prize money of PKR 1.5 million, while Fatima Sana-led Conquerors secured PKR one million cash prize for ending as the runners-up.
Arfa Feroz Zake
