Pakistan’s women locked horns with the Women in Yellow in their second encounter of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2022. Australian skipper Meg Lanning won the toss and asked Pakistan’s women to bat first at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui. However, the women in green didn’t have great start and lost their first four wickets for a score of 44 runs in 12.5 overs. It looked like Pakistan would get bowled out for under 125 runs. But it was the fifth wicket partnership between skipper Bismah Maroof and Aliya Riaz that gave them some hope.
Both batters added a vital 99 runs for the fifth wicket and helped their team to post a decent total on the board. Both batsmen completed their respective half-centuries during the course of their innings. Aliya Riaz scored 53 runs off 109 balls. But skipper Bismah played a fighting knock of 78 runs and remained unbeaten. It was just the second match for the Pakistani skipper on her comeback after her childbirth, but she performed exceptionally well. But it was something else that caught the eyes of everyone.
Watch – Bismah Maroof dedicated his half-century to her daughter
The skipper, along with Riaz, helped their team to manage 190 runs in their 50 overs. And after reaching her half-century, the captain pointed out towards the stand where her relatives were standing holding her six-month-old daughter. Bismah also did baby celebration to dedicate her half-century to her new born daughter.
However, Australia won the match pretty easily by seven wickets at the end. Wicket-keeper and opening batsman Alyssa Healy scored a beautiful half-century and secured the win for her team. She made 72 runs off 79 balls, including seven boundaries. They chased the target in 34.4 overs and won back-to-back matches in this World Cup. Healy was also named “Player of the Match” for his performance.