LAHORE: Bismah Maroof’s gutsy half-century went in vain as England women beat Pakistan by 29 runs in the first of the three T20 Internationals at Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.
The Pakistan captain scored a 58-ball 60, hitting five fours after they lost both openers in the first five balls of the run chase as the scorecard read one for two at the end of the first over.
The problems compounded when they lost two wickets in the last three balls of the Powerplay, which left them reeling at 47 for four.
Bismah, over the course of her 11th T20 half-century, led the rearguard effort by knitting a 46-run partnership with Umaima Sohail, who hit two fours and a six in her 14-ball 21, while her 60-run stand with wicket-keeper-batter Sidra Nawaz (22 off 24) brought Pakistan closer to victory.
She was the last Pakistan wicket as the hosts were bowled out for 125 in 18.4 overs.
England’s Sophie Ecclestone shone with the ball taking three wickets for 21 runs, while the other notable performance came from Freya Davis, who took two wickets at the cost of 18 runs.
Reflecting on her innings and the match, Bismah Maroof said: “I was looking to keep the scoreboard ticking by targeting bad balls and rotating the strike. My target was to stay at the crease till the end”.
“It was a batting-friendly wicket and we missed the trick by not constructing lengthy partnerships. We are doing well in bits and pieces but we are unable to make the most of the chances that we get”, she said.
That England had scored an imposing 154 for four, after being put into bat, was largely due to a blistering 39-ball 53 by wicket-keeper-batter Amy Jones.
Over the course of her second half-century in the format, Jones, who struck 10 fours, provided a solid foundation. She knitted a 58-run partnership for the second-wicket with Tammy Beaumont (30 off 29) which helped England recover from an early dismissal of Danni Wyatt, who made run-a-ball six, in the fourth over.
The partnership was broken by 15-year-old debutant Aroob Shah. The leg-spinner accounted for Jones’ wicket in the 11th over and was the most-economical bowler from her side with 13 dot balls in four overs. She returned one for 21.
For her exploits with the bat, Jones was named player of the match.
The second T20I will be played on Thursday.
Summarised scores:
ENGLAND WOMEN 154-4 in 20 overs (Amy Jones 53, Natalie Sciver 34 not out, Tammy Beaumont 30; Nida Dar 2-30).
PAKISTAN WOMEN 125 in 18.4 overs (Bismah Maroof 60, Sidra Nawaz 22, Umaima Sohail 21; Sophie Ecclestone 3-21, Natalie Sciver 2-12, Freya Davis 2-18).
