Pakistan's Fatima Sana Sets New Record in T20I Series Against Zimbabwe
Historic Performance by Fatima Sana
In a remarkable display, Pakistan's captain Fatima Sana led her team to a commanding 3-0 victory over Zimbabwe's women's cricket team in Karachi, enhancing their preparations for the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup. Sana achieved a groundbreaking milestone by scoring the fastest half-century in Women's T20 International history, reaching this feat in just 15 balls during her explosive innings.
Record-Breaking Innings
Sana's innings included an impressive tally of 10 fours and 2 sixes, finishing with a score of 62 not out off only 19 deliveries. This performance shattered the previous record for the fastest fifty in Women's T20Is, which was held by Sophie Devine, Phoebe Litchfield, and Richa Ghosh, all of whom had reached their fifties in 18 balls.
Prior to this, the record for the fastest half-century by a Pakistani woman was held by former captain Nida Dar, who achieved the milestone in 20 balls against South Africa in 2019.
Pakistan Sets a High Target
Pakistan set a formidable target of 223 runs for the loss of 4 wickets after recovering from a precarious position of 93 for 3 in the 11th over. Young talent Saira Jabeen also shone brightly, scoring her first T20I half-century in just 32 balls during her third international match. For Zimbabwe, Lindokuhle Mabhero took two wickets, while Beloved Biza and Michelle Mavunga each claimed one.
Spin Attack Dominates Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe started their chase with aggression, led by Kelis Ndhlovu, who scored 32 runs off 13 balls. However, Pakistan's spin bowlers quickly took charge of the match. Left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal was the standout performer, taking 3 wickets for 20 runs and dismissing key players early in the innings. She was well-supported by Rameen Shamim and Nashra Sundhu, as Zimbabwe was bowled out for just 90 runs. Sandhu took two wickets, while Sana, Rameen Shamim, and Tuba Hassan each contributed with one wicket.
This convincing win ensured that Pakistan remained undefeated in both white-ball series against Zimbabwe, providing them with crucial momentum and confidence as they head into the global tournament later this year.