Ayesha Zafar’s rapid ton crushes Zimbabwe

Ayesha Zafar's rapid ton crushes Zimbabwe

Ayesha Zafar smashed the joint third-fastest Women's T20I hundred, hitting two sixes and 15 fours in an unbeaten 47-ball 102 to propel Pakistan Women to 237/5 – their first time crossing 200 in the format.

The 31-year-old, who made a comeback in March after nearly two years away, put on a dominant display with leg-side hits, notching up her first T20 fifty and converting it to three figures.

At the crease in the second over, Zafar repeatedly targeted the leg side against spinners. On 20, she got a reprieve with square leg dropping a catch, but continued punishing anything short or full.

Gull Feroza departed for a 19-ball 37 after an early push. Zafar reached fifty in 29 balls, then accelerated from the 16-over mark, using the crease well to make room against quicks.

A 67-run stand off 35 balls with Aliya Riaz (48) and a 70-run partnership off 27 balls with Fatima Sana ensured they crossed 200. A last-ball four took Zafar to three figures.

In reply, Zimbabwe slumped to 14/3 in the third over after Sana struck twice in successive balls. They finished at 30/5 by the end of the Powerplay. Opener Natasha Mtomba top-scored with 24; no other player crossed 20.

Sana finished with 3-7, becoming the highest wicket-taker among T20I quicks for Pakistan Women (46). Zafar is now the only other Pakistan Women's T20I centurion besides Muneeba Ali.

Brief scores: Pakistan Women 237/5 in 20 overs (Ayesha Zafar 102*, Aliya Riaz 48; Nomvelo Sibanda 2-59) beat Zimbabwe Women 84 all out in 18.2 overs (Natasha Mtomba 24; Fatima Sana 3-7, Natalia Pervaiz 2-3) by 153 runs.