KARACHI: A blistering unbeaten 79 from 21-year-old Eyman Fatima fired Pakistan Women to a 67-run win over Zimbabwe in the second T20I at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on Thursday evening, sealing the three-match series with a game to spare.
Pakistan posted 170 for 4 after opting to bat and then restricted Zimbabwe to 103 for 8, making it five straight white-ball wins on the tour following a 3-0 ODI sweep. Pakistan were in trouble at 46 for 3 in the eighth over after losing three wickets for 19 runs. Opener Gull Feroza, first-match centurion Ayesha Zafar and returning Iram Javed.
Walking in at that stage, Eyman Fatima turned the innings around. From there, she added 77 runs off her next 34 balls. Eyman shared a 46-run stand with opener Muneeba Ali, who made 36 off 33 balls. After Muneeba fell to Lindokuhle Mabhero with the score on 92 in the 14th over, Eyman combined with Natalia Pervaiz for an unbroken 78-run partnership off just 40 balls.
Eyman reached her maiden international fifty off 32 balls in the 17th over and finished with 79 not out off 43, hitting 10 fours and four sixes. She scored 50 of her runs in the last 21 balls she faced. Natalia remained unbeaten on 24 off 19.
For Zimbabwe, Precious Marange, Michelle Mavunga, and Mabhero took one wicket each. Zimbabwe’s chase never got going. Captain Fatima Sana removed Beloved Biza in the third over, and spinners Nashra Sundhu, Tuba Hassan, and Sadia Iqbal tightened the screws.
The visitors lost six wickets for 51 runs inside the first 50 balls. Nashra finished with 2 for 18, while Fatima, Sadia, Tuba, Ayesha Naseem, and Natalia picked up one wicket apiece. Skipper Chipo Sibanada fought a lone battle with an unbeaten 18 off 37 balls, adding 22 with Mabhero (12) and 20 with Kudzai Chigora (14*) for the eighth and ninth wickets. Zimbabwe ended on 103 for 8 in 20 overs.
Scores in brief: Pakistan 170-4 in 20 overs (Eyman Fatima 79 not out; Muneeba Ali 36, Natalia Parvaiz 24 not out, Lindokuhle Mabhero 1-20). Zimbabwe 103-8 in 20 overs (Nomvelo Sibanda 18 not out, Kudzai Chigora 14 not out, Nashra Sundhu 2-18) Player of the match – Eyman Fatima (Pakistan women).
