7:28pm An innings that stuttered, stumbled and ultimately crashed. Pakistan seemed too cautious inside the powerplay and that seemed to flow over once the field restrictions were lifted. None of their batters got going, and Riaz, their top-scorer in the innings, also trickled along to 26 off 32, helped by a few hits to the fence towards the end.
Another clinical and tidy bowling display by the defending champions. They stuck to their plans, bowled at the stumps and rarely offered Pakistan any chances to break free. Gardner picked up four, with Sutherland and Wareham bagging a brace of wickets apiece. Molineux and Schutt were also among the wickets and they had so many options that they did not miss Vlaeminck, who suffered an injury in the first over.
Megan Schutt: (On what helps her succeed) Keeping it pretty simple. Speaks volumes of the team I have had behind me. Pretty stoked to have a good team around me. (Difference between Dubai and Sharjah) Not a huge difference. Cutters were gripping, spinners got some turn. To keep them under a 100 was great. She (Vlaeminck) gives a 100% all the time, which is often her downfall at times (laughs). But we will rally around her and try to keep her happy.
Aliya Riaz c Wareham b Sutherland 26 (47m 32b 3x4 0x6) SR: 81.25
Sutherland to bowl the last over. Keeper up to the stumps. How many can Pakistan get?
END OF OVER:19 | 3 Runs 3 Wkts | PAK-W: 78/9 | RR: 4.10
- Aliya Riaz22 (27b)
- Ashleigh Gardner4-0-21-4
- Sophie Molineux4-0-19-1
Nashra Sandhu lbw b Gardner 0 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
Sandhu is the second-last batter in
Syeda Aroob Shah c Mooney b Gardner 1 (1m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00
Aroob Shah to try her luck with the bat now
Tuba Hassan st †Healy b Gardner 3 (8m 6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00
Two overs left. Can Pakistan somehow get up to 100? Gardner to bowl the 19th. Around the wicket
END OF OVER:18 | 8 Runs | PAK-W: 75/6 | RR: 4.16
- Tuba Hassan3 (5b)
- Aliya Riaz20 (25b)
- Sophie Molineux4-0-19-1
- Ashleigh Gardner3-0-18-1
Naresh: "Has Aussie captain forgotten about bowling Tayla" -- She injured her shoulder in the first over of the game and has been off the field since...
Back to around the wicket
Here's Molineux. Over the wicket
Odinlass: "Any attempt at hiting a boundary has basically ended up being a catch" -- Sums it up...
END OF OVER:17 | 9 Runs 1 Wkt | PAK-W: 67/6 | RR: 3.94
- Tuba Hassan2 (2b)
- Aliya Riaz14 (22b)
- Ashleigh Gardner3-0-18-1
- Sophie Molineux3-0-11-1