Blasters and Challengers got off to a winning start in their first of the three matches in the second phase of T20 Women’s Cricket Tournament 2022-23 in Lahore on Monday.

It was Pakistan’s captain Bismah Maroof unbeaten 60 and Blasters’ captain Fatima Sana two for 28 which led to Blasters five-run win over Dynamites at the LCCA Ground.

After being put into bat, Blasters scored 136 for seven in 20 overs. Left-handed Bismah top-scored with an unbeaten 48-ball 60, which included eight fours. Opening batter Shawal Zulfiqar scored a 20-ball 21, hitting three fours.

Dynamites captain Umm-e-Hani with her off-spin bowling bagged two wickets for 10 in three.

In return, Nahida Khan’s unbeaten 60-ball 70 went in vain as Dynamites were restricted to 131 for three in their 20 overs. The right-handed batter Nahida’s innings included eight fours and one six. All-rounder Nida Dar was other notable run getter, scoring an unbeaten 32-ball 38, smashing four boundaries.

In the second match of the day, at the Lahore Gymkhana, Aimen Anwar’s all-round performance led Challengers beat Strikers by one run.

After being put into bat, Challengers managed to score 115 for eight in their allotted 20 overs. Aimen coming to bat at number nine scored a valuable unbeaten 16 runs off 14 balls and struck one four. Opening batter Javeria Khan too scored 16 off 13 balls, which included three fours.

For Strikers, the 20-year-old Fatima Khan picked three wickets for 16.

In return, the strikers fell one run short off the target as managed to score only 114 for the loss of seven wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Natalia Parvaiz’ 28 off 32 balls and Syeda Aroob Shah’s unbeaten run-a-ball 26 goes in vain.

Challengers’ leg-spinner Ghulam Fatima took two wickets for 16, while Aimen took a wicket for 24 runs in her four overs.

Scores in brief:

Blasters beat Dynamites by five runs

Blasters 136-7, 20 overs (Bismah Maroof 60 not out, Shawal Zulfiqar 21; Umm-e-Hani 2-10)

Dynamites 131-3, 20 overs (Nahida Khan 70 not out, Nida Dar 38 not out; Fatima Sana 2-28)

Player of the match – Bismah Maroof (PCB Blasters)

Challengers beat Strikers by one run

Challengers 115-8, 20 overs (Aimen Anwar 16 not out, Javeria Khan 16; Fatima Khan 3-16)

Strikers 114-7, 20 overs (Natalia Parvaiz 28, Syeda Aroob Shah 26 not out; Ghulam Fatima 2-16)

Player of the match – Aimen Anwar (Challengers).