(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Sidra Amin’s Century Powers Pakistan to Strong Start Against South Africa in Lahore ODI
Lahore: Veteran batter Sidra Amin struck a brilliant century to guide Pakistan Women to a competitive total of 255 runs against South Africa in the opening ODI of the three-match series at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.
Pakistan’s Strong Batting Display
After winning the toss, skipper Fatima Sana opted to bat first. Sidra Amin led from the front with a composed knock, while opener Muneeba Ali provided solid support, putting Pakistan in a strong position to secure victory in the series opener.
The match serves as part of Pakistan’s build-up to the Women’s World Cup 2025, scheduled to take place later this month under a hybrid model across India and Sri Lanka. Due to political tensions, all of Pakistan’s fixtures will be staged in Colombo.
Captain Fatima Sana on Team Goals
Speaking ahead of the series, captain Fatima Sana emphasized the importance of the ODI matches in fine-tuning Pakistan’s preparations for the World Cup.
“This series gives us a chance to implement everything we have worked on during the camp. Our main focus will be on improving our batting to support our bowling strength,” she said.
Pakistan’s training camp included scenario-based practice sessions at the National Cricket Academy and Gaddafi Stadium to prepare players for tournament pressure.
Series Details
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Matches: September 16, 19, and 22
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Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
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Match Time: 3:30 pm (local time)
Pakistan’s 15-member squad, led by Fatima Sana, includes young batter Eyman Fatima, who recently made her T20I debut in Ireland. South Africa is being captained by Laura Wolvaardt, one of the leading batters in world cricket.
Historical Context
In ODI head-to-head encounters, South Africa has had the upper hand against Pakistan, winning the majority of their 28 clashes. However, Pakistan will take confidence from their eight-wicket victory over South Africa in the ICC Women’s Championship match in Karachi on September 14, 2023.
Road to the Women’s World Cup
Both teams see this ODI series as vital preparation ahead of the Women’s World Cup, set for September 30 to November 2. The tournament will feature eight top teams, with Pakistan looking to build momentum after consistent performances in recent months.
