Games – Page 344 – Newswire Pakistan

March 29, 2022March 30, 2022

The Pakistan Women’s Baseball Team defeated the Malaysian Women’s baseball team 15-6 in the third match of the Umoja Builders Women’s Baseball Series to win the series 3-0

Lahore, March 29, 2022 (PPI-OT):The three-match Umoja Builders Women’s Baseball Series between Pakistan and Malaysia’s National Women’s Baseball teams ended in a 3-0 series victory for Pakistan at Bahria Town Lahore. In the third and final match of the series, Pakistan defeated Malaysia 15-6.

The Chief Guest at the Closing Ceremony of the series was Brig. Khalil Ullah Butt (Retd.), Executive Director, Bahria Town, Lahore. The Guest of Honour Muhammad Tanveer CEO Ajwa City Gujranwala was also present on the occasion. President of Pakistan Federation Baseball Syed Fakhar Ali Shah received the Chief Guest and other guests. Head Coach Musaddiq Hanif, President of Malaysian Baseball Federation Sazali Hussain and other officials of the federation were also present on the occasion.

In the third match of the series, Pakistan defeated Malaysia 15-6. Humaira Khan, Umm e Hani, Rashida Parveen and Ayesha Ijaz scored 2 runs each while Sidra Riyasat, Madiha, Zainab Riaz, Zahida Ghani, Asia Siddique, Noorina and Maryam contributed 1 run each. Noor Afrina scored 2 runs for Malaysia while Alina, Noor Shuhada, Ayesha and Aina contributed 1 run each.

At the end of the match, Chief Guest Brig. Khalil Ullah Butt (Rtd.) distributed medals and trophies among the players. Talking to media on the occasion, he said that hosting International Women’s Baseball Series in Bahria Town Lahore is a welcome thing. Malaysia is our brotherly Islamic country and we are very happy to host them.

After the victory in the series, Pakistan captain Zainab Riaz said that all the team is very happy to win the series. The Malaysian team played the best game. Our players got a lot of experience from this series.

After the defeat in the series, the captain of the Malaysian team said that our team played a very good game in the series but unfortunately we could not get the result of the matches in our favour. The Pakistan team played a great game and we congratulate them on their success in the series. Our team’s tour of Pakistan was very good and we would love to come and play in Pakistan in future also.

For more information, contact:
Pakistan Federation Baseball
Punjab Stadium, Ferozepur Road,
Lahore, Pakistan
Tel. +92-42-353-41121
Fax + 92-42-357-11828
E-mail: pakistanfederationbaseball@hotmail.com

March 28, 2022

A World Cup like no other

Dubai, March 28, 2022 (PPI-OT):The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 league stage was nail-biting from start to finish.

What began with a last-over thriller between the hosts New Zealand and surprise outfit the West Indies ended with the final qualification place being decided by the last ball of the final round robin game.

That opening match in Tauranga set the precedent for a high-scoring World Cup with close finishes and incredible catches aplenty.

Deandra Dottin provided the magic in the final over to bowl the West Indies to victory by just three runs, just one of 10 games to go down to the final six balls with all results still possible.

Players from all eight teams were unsurprised at the competitiveness of the tournament, New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine revealing her pride at the feast of international cricket her country has put on.

She said: “I think the tournament’s been fantastic. I think honestly, this has probably been one of the most competitive, high scoring competitions that I’ve been involved in, and I’ve been around for a while.

“The way that teams have batted in particular has been outstanding. I think a lot of credit has to go to the ground staff and what’s been prepared here in New Zealand, which obviously I’m very proud of.

“I just think it’s been fantastic to see scores of 250 plus, obviously 300 at the start of the tournament with Australia and England. It shows the growth of the women’s game and when we get put on great cricket wickets, you get fantastic results.”

While scores of over 250 have been a feature across the tournament, Bangladesh were the only side to not concede more than 250 runs in any of their matches, not bad for the newcomers.

The Tigresses earned plenty of new fans as they pushed South Africa close in their maiden ODI World Cup game close before securing their first World Cup win with victory over Pakistan.

Pakistan bounced back with a victory of their own over the West Indies – a first for 13 years – as the 2022 edition became only the third World Cup after 1973 and 1993 where every team has registered at least one win.

While Australia have gone unbeaten in the group stages for the fourth time, taking a maximum 14 points, the holders England have been part of three final-over finishes, with veteran Katherine Brunt reflecting on the improvement in women’s cricket since she won the World Cup with England in 2009.

“It felt like back then we were most certainly right up there as the best team in the world. First or second for a long time,” the 36-year-old said.

“Many years later, the world has caught up and there are some brilliant teams around the globe now and some brilliant players have come out of the woodwork, some have gotten better and better.

“That’s credit to the sport and where we’re going and the professionalism of it, so everything is a lot harder now – the competition is very strong and not one game is a laid-back game.

“Everything has to be taken very seriously and that’s a credit to the game and where it’s come.”

Brunt’s England teammate Sophie Ecclestone is the leading wicket-taker after the group stage with 14 scalps but a duo from South Africa are hot on her heels.

Shabnim Ismail and Ayabonga Khaka have both taken 11 wickets for the Proteas, and after South Africa knocked out India in the final game of the league stage, Sneh Rana ended as the Women in Blue’s top bowler, also with 11 victims.

Hayley Matthews of the West Indies, England’s Charlie Dean and Marizanne Kapp of South Africa now form the chasing pack with 10 wickets apiece with at least one more game to add to their totals, having made the semi-finals, with the battle between spin and seam proving to be an even contest.

On the list of top run scorers, Laura Wolvaardt is 75 clear of Australia captain Meg Lanning with 433 and only 23 behind Debbie Hockley’s all-time record of 456 at a single World Cup, which she achieved in 1997.

The 22-year-old South African will have at least one chance to get past New Zealand’s Hockley when her side face England in the second semi-final in Christchurch on 31 March.

By that point, she may already be chasing Lanning again who will lead her side against the West Indies in Wellington the day before.

The skipper has the highest knock of the tournament so far with 135 not out against South Africa, with her 97 in a World Cup-record chase of 278 against India rounding out the top 10 innings.

But the numbers tell only half the story, the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 has also been a feast for the eyes.

From incredible flying catches and joyous celebrations to the new star of women’s cricket, baby Fatima, the daughter of Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof.

It has been a World Cup celebrating motherhood, determination, and skill. And it is not over yet.

SEMI-FINAL LINEUP:

Semi-final 1, Basin Reserve, Wellington

Australia v West Indies,

11h00 local time on Wednesday, 30 March

Semi-final 2, Hagley Oval, Christchurch

England v South Africa

14h00 local time on Thursday, 31 March

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
International Cricket Council (ICC)
Street 69, Dubai Sports City,
Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +97-143828800
Fax: +97-143828600
E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com
Website: www.icc-cricket.com

March 28, 2022

Match Officials for semi-finals announced

Dubai, March 28, 2022 (PPI-OT):Women Match Officials will be in the forefront in the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022, the appointments for which were confirmed at the end of the league stage of the eight-team tournament.

Both Match Referees, all on-field and TV umpires will be women in these high-profile fixtures, with the appointments for the final due to be announced after these two matches.

Lauren Agenbag and Kim Cotton will be the on-field umpires for the first semi-final between Australia and the West Indies at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Wednesday. Sue Redfern will be third umpire in this match with Alex Wharf the fourth umpire. Shandre Fritz will be the Match Referee.

For the second semi-final between England and South Africa at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Thursday, Eloise Sheridan and Claire Polosak will be the two on-field umpires, with Jacqueline Williams named the third umpire and Langton Rusere the fourth umpire. GS Lakshmi will be the Match Referee.

Date – Venue – Referee – On field 1 – On field 2 – TV Ump – 4th Ump

30-Mar-22 – Basin Reserve, Wellington – Fritz – Agenbag – Cotton – Redfern – Wharf

31-Mar-22 – Hagley Oval, Christchurch – Lakshmi – Sheridan – Polosak – Williams – Rusere

March 28, 2022

Five top individual performances of the #CWC22 group stage

Dubai, March 28, 2022 (PPI-OT):The group stage of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 will go down as one of the most closely fought ever with multiple nail-biting finishes going down to the wire in New Zealand.

There were shocks, surprises, and no shortage of highlights but it was Australia, South Africa, England and the West Indies who made it through to the semi-finals.

Here, we look at the best individual performances from the league stage ahead of the knockouts.

West Indies – Hayley Matthews 119 and 2/41 v New Zealand

Some tournaments take a while to get going but this year’s World Cup burst into life in the very first game, thanks in no small part to the West Indies’ Hayley Matthews.

Few had earmarked Courtney Walsh’s side as ones to watch in Aotearoa but Matthews’s pyrotechnics against the White Ferns will live long in the memory.

Having been promoted to open from her usual role in the middle order, Matthews blasted 16 fours and one six in an incredible knock of 119 from 128 balls that lifted the Windies to 259 for nine.

If that was not enough, the off-spinner picked up where she left off with the ball, recording figures of two for 41, snaring the important wickets of Amelia Kerr and Brooke Halliday in the three-run win.

South Africa – Marizanne Kapp 32 and 5/45 v England

The Proteas went four from four early on in the group stage and Marizanne Kapp’s all-round displays helped fire them into the semi-finals.

Such is her talent that Kapp was annoyed she got out with 10 still required for South Africa to beat England but her 32 played a large hand in helping them over the line with three wickets and four balls to spare.

But Kapp had been even more outstanding with the ball as she ripped through both the top and bottom of the defending champions’ batting line-up, the seamer taking five for 45 to restrict England to a manageable 235 for nine for her first international five-wicket haul and the best figures of the group stage.

Arguably even more crucially, it was Kapp who hurled the ball in to run out Amy Jones on 53 at a vital stage in proceedings.

England – Charlie Dean 4/23 v India

A win against India kept England’s hopes of progressing alive after opening with three straight defeats, and it was young spinner Charlie Dean who got their campaign going with a career-best four for 23 in just her second World Cup game.

Dean’s accurate off-breaks contributed to India being bowled out for 134, their lowest total at a World Cup since the 2005 final, as England went on to win by four wickets.

At just 21, Dean, aided by drift and bowling an attacking line, claimed two wickets in four balls after entering the fray in the 17th over.

She then removed Pooja Vastrakar before delivering the final blow by bowling Meghna Singh to round off what was a Player of the Match performance.

Pakistan – Nida Dar 4/10 v West Indies

Pakistan vice-captain Nida Dar led from the front throughout her side’s campaign, contributing with both bat and ball.

Nida became the first Pakistani woman to score two half-centuries at a World Cup with 50 against New Zealand in their final game.

The off-spinner also picked up three for 39 against the White Ferns to cap an impressive tournament.

But it was the career-best four for 10 Nida took against the West Indies, the best bowling figures by a Pakistani woman at a 50-over World Cup, which snapped their 18-game winless streak.

Nida derailed the West Indian big-hitters with meticulous planning and accuracy, putting both herself and her country into the record books with Pakistan’s first World Cup win for 13 years.

Australia – Meg Lanning 135 not out v South Africa

Cricket fans should no longer be surprised by Australia captain Meg Lanning’s brilliance but ‘the Megastar’ continues to outdo herself with the bat.

There are several of her performances which deserve to make this list – her 97 in the record-breaking chase of 278 to beat India is worth an honourable mention – but Lanning’s unbeaten 135 off 130 balls against South Africa was the pick of her batting displays.

Both teams came into the game unbeaten and unlike previous run chases, Australia’s star openers Alyssa Healy and Rachael Haynes had departed cheaply, making just 22 between them.

But Lanning’s century came at more than a run a ball and included 15 fours and one six to power Australia from 45 for two to the 272 required for victory.

March 28, 2022

Road to the semi-finals

Dubai, March 28, 2022 (PPI-OT):The semi-final line-up of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 is complete after a heart-thumping group stage came to an end.

Australia, South Africa, England and the West Indies were the sides to advance to the final four as India and New Zealand were pipped to progression by just a solitary point.

Here, we shine a light on how each of the four teams navigated their way to the knockout stages ahead of the first semi-final between Australia and West Indies getting underway on Wednesday.

Australia

Meg Lanning’s Australia look the unequivocal team to beat after enjoying a searing unbeaten campaign.

Lanning’s star-studded outfit racked up an imperious seven wins from seven as they successfully booked their place in the semi-finals with two games to spare.

And there have been no shortage of stand-out performances along the way, with Lanning’s brilliant 135 not out against South Africa, Rachael Haynes’ century against England and Ashleigh Gardner, Jess Jonassen and Alana King’s haul of 24 wickets between them helping fire the six-time champions into the semi-finals.

A nerve-jangling 12-run win over England, a dominant 141-run triumph over New Zealand and confident chases against India and West Indies helped cap a dominant campaign as Australia bid to emulate those performance levels heading into yet another ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup semi-final.

South Africa

South Africa successfully secured a spot in their third ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup semi-final after a rain-affected affair against West Indies in Wellington.

Sune Luus’ team rounded off the group stage with a record of five wins from seven as defeats against Australia, coupled with that abandoned clash against the Maroon Warriors, safely secured their spot in the final four.

A thrilling six-run win over Pakistan marked one of their pivotal triumphs as runs from Laura Wolvaardt and skipper Luus, bolstered by wickets from Shabnim Ismail, Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka helped them edge past Bismah Maroof’s side.

And a similarly pulsating three-wicket win over Heather Knight’s England also outlined their threat at the competition, chasing down a target of 236 after a crucial contribution from opener Wolvaardt.

England

England’s ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 campaign has quite literally been a tale of two halves.

After losing their first three matches against Australia, West Indies and South Africa to leave their hopes of progression on the brink, the defending champions finally hit their straps against India, New Zealand, Pakistan and Bangladesh to salvage their hopes of a second consecutive crown.

A nail-biting one-wicket win over New Zealand – after Nat Sciver’s 61 – and a four-wicket triumph over India kept their campaign alive before a fluent victory over Pakistan – Danni Wyatt and Sophie Ecclestone starring with bat and ball – teed up a crucial clash against Bangladesh.

And Knight’s team held their nerve when it mattered as Sophia Dunkley’s 67, followed by three wickets apiece for spin twins Ecclestone and Charlie Dean, helped sink the Tigresses by 100 runs and secure third spot, meaning they will play South Africa in Christchurch on Thursday.

West Indies

The West Indies have endured a similarly turbulent campaign as three wins, three losses and that washed-out clash against South Africa hauled them into their second ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup semi-final.

And those three victories were all secured in breath-taking fashion, battling past New Zealand, England and Bangladesh by the barest of margins to keep Stafanie Taylor’s side in contention.

Defeats against Australia, Pakistan and India slightly derailed their progress, but the Maroon Warriors are clearly made of stern stuff after that hat-trick of thrilling victories.

They beat New Zealand by three runs – in the first game of the tournament – England by seven and Bangladesh by four as they boldly defended their totals to help edge into the semi-finals.

March 28, 2022March 28, 2022

PCB unveils bumper women’s cricket season

Lahore, March 28, 2022 (PPI-OT):With the aim of reducing the national side’s gap with the leading international teams and creating more opportunities for players to grow and evolve according to the demands of the contemporary game, the Pakistan Cricket Board today unveiled a bumper season for the women cricketers.

Bismah Maroof’s side will compete in eight international series, including ICC Women’s Championship commitments, ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup from May 2022 till February 2023.

In what will be the first instance of Pakistan staging the ICC Women’s Championship fixtures, Sri Lanka will tour the country for three ODIs in May-June. Their tour is beefed with three T20Is – to be played under floodlights – that will help the two sides in their preparations for the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and the much-anticipated ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, which will be played in South Africa in February 2023.

Bismah Maroof’s side will host three more ICC Women’s Championship ODIs in October-November when Ireland will arrive in Pakistan for what will be their first tour of the country. Along with three ODIs, the two teams will also face-off in three T20Is.

The Ireland women side’s visit will follow the national side’s participation in a triangular T20I series in Bready that will involve the hosts and T20 World Cup champions Australia in July ahead of the eight-team Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Before the Ireland’s visit, Pakistan women will travel to Hangzhou, China, for the 19th Asian Games in September. At the backend of 2022, the national side will participate in the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup, the details of which will be announced by the event organiser.

2023 will begin with a challenging tour of Australia in which they will play ICC Women’s Championship ODIs and three T20Is in January-February. The tour will further test the ability of the side and provide them with the crucial experience to continue to grow as a team.

More competition and opportunities for domestic cricketers

With the ambition of creating a strong talent pool at the domestic level and lay a proper pathway structure, the PCB, in a first, will organise an U19 T20 competition in Muridke in August with all six Cricket Associations fielding their teams.

This initiative will help the PCB to reach out to passionate girls in every nook and corner of the country and help them materialise their dreams of playing the game at the competitive level.

The players who standout in the U19 tournament will have a chance to feature in the senior women’s domestic season 2022-23, in which around 100 cricketers will feature.

The senior domestic season will begin with the T20 championship in September in which seven teams will participate. The event will be divided into two phases with four teams, comprising best players from the six Cricket Associations, featuring in the first phase.

The top performers from phase one will lock horns with the international cricketers in the second phase of the championship, in which three evenly balanced teams will contest.

The season will conclude with a 14-match One-Day tournament in April with Karachi hosting the four-team event, which will be played on double round-robin league basis to provide all the participating players a healthy mix of quality and quantity.

Head of Women’s Cricket Tania Mallick: “The past few weeks have brought to light the gulf between our side and the leading international teams. To develop and strengthen our national side, it is imperative to have a strong and competitive domestic structure and provide more opportunities to the national side to play in challenging conditions so we continue to gauge where we stand.

“We have put in a lot of thinking before penning down our upcoming season. I am grateful to all six Cricket Associations who have jumped on board and expressed their desire and willingness to develop women’s cricket at age group and senior rungs in their jurisdictions. Their help and support will unearth talent from all parts of the country and, with a strong system in place, I am sure we will be able to produce players who are capable of performing according to the contemporary demands and needs.”

Pakistan Women’s Head Coach David Hemp: “It is extremely important for our national side to continue to be challenged and play in tough conditions against tough oppositions to continue to grow and our commitments in the next season will help us on that front.

“Though, the recent results have not gone in our favour, but the individual performances underscore that these girls have the potential, and we need to provide them opportunities to upskill themselves. For the first time in the history of the World Cups, a Pakistan batter scored a century, our spinners have dominated the oppositions and a young all-rounder, just out of her teens, was recognised as the emerging cricketer of 2021 by the game’s global body.

“I am certain that the upcoming season will help our team develop and we will see consistent results.”

Pakistan women’s captain Bismah Maroof: “Over the recent years, the women’s cricket has grown immensely and the level of competition has increased manifold. In such a backdrop, it is very important that we have proper international and domestic schedules.

“Playing more international games will aid the national side in better pressure handling and capturing the key moments, which we have not been able to do recently despite some outstanding chunks of play. We also need to have better bench strength and the introduction of an U19 event will go a long way in helping us with that.

“There is certainly plethora of talent in our country and the feedback that I have received from coaches about players from emerging camps have been great. We need to test that talent in match situations, and giving them matches under pressure environments will help in their growth.

“Taking a look at our calendar for the next 10 to 12 months make me excited and I am looking forward to it.”

Complete schedule May 2022-April 2023:

International events

18 May-7 June: Sri Lanka to Pakistan (3 ICC Women’s Championship ODIs, 3 T20Is), Rawalpindi

12-24 July: Pakistan to Ireland (4 tri-series T20Is also involving Australia), Dublin

25 July-8 August: Birmingham Commonwealth Games

30 Oct-20 Nov: Ireland to Pakistan (3 ICC Women’s Championship ODIs, 3 T20Is), Lahore/Karachi

December: ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup

4 Jan-1 Feb: Pakistan to Australia (3 ICC Women’s Championship ODIs, 3 T20Is)

February: ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, South Africa

Domestic events

2-18 August: U19 Women’s T20 Tournament (14 T20s), Muridke

Sep/Oct: Triangular T20 Women’s Championship, Muridke/Lahore

5-25 April: Pakistan Women’s One-Day Tournament (14 50-over matches), Karachi

For more information, contact:
Media Manager,
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore 54600, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-5717231-4
Fax: +92-42-5711860
Website: www.pcb.com.pk