Aliya’s 97 seals last-ball win for Strikers over Conquerors
Aliya Riaz’s unbeaten charge to 97 helped Strikers chase 221 on the final ball, earning their first win in three.
In a thrilling finish on Thursday, the Strikers secured their maiden victory of the tournament by narrowly defeating the Conquerors in the fourth round of the National Women’s One‑Day Tournament at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. Strikers chased down a target of 221 on the last ball of the 50th over, finishing at 221-7 as Aliya Riaz powered her side with a 102-ball knock of 97, which included 12 fours and three sixes.
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Strikers had stumbled early in their pursuit, losing three wickets as they reached 26 after the opening pair of Shawaal Zulfiqar (23 off 52, 4 ×4) and Saiqa Riaz (9) put on a promising start. The match turned when Aliya joined Noreen Yaqoob and together they built a 147-run fourth-wicket partnership. Noreen chipped in with 46 off 87 balls (4 ×4, 1 ×6) before both were dismissed at 194.
At that point, as the target loomed, no.7 batter Humna Bilal, unbeaten 17 off 18 balls (1 ×4), steered the side home alongside Aliya. The winning run was struck by Ghulam Fatima on the last ball, bowled by Fatima Sana.
Earlier, the Conquerors posted 220 all out in 44.4 overs after an encouraging position of 158-3. Skipper Fatima (Sana) led the revival with 58 off 45 balls (8 ×4, 1 ×6) and Gull Feroza added 48 (72 balls, 4 ×4) in a fourth-wicket stand of 85. For Strikers, Humna claimed 3-23, Noreen picked up 2-32 and Ghulam 2-40.
In a parallel match at the HPC Ground, the Stars thrashed the Invincibles by 70 runs after setting a total of 214. Syeda Aroob Shah top-scored with 40 and took two wickets. Her side’s batting featured Sidra Amin (49 off 67, 4 ×4) and Gull Rukh (34 off 60, 4 ×4) who built a 54-run second-wicket partnership. The Invincibles were bowled out for 144 in 37.5 overs, despite a fighting 63 from Natalia Parvaiz (77 balls, 8 ×4). Momina Riasat picked up a five-for (5-27) but support was limited.
Strikers’ win ends a three-match drought in this stage of the tournament. The National Women’s One-Day Tournament, overseen by the Pakistan Cricket Board, continues at Iqbal Stadium and the HPC Ground on Saturday, 22 November, as teams vie for semi-final berths.
The Strikers’ surge adds to increasing competition in Pakistan’s women’s domestic one-day structure and highlights the growing depth in batting and spin bowling as the season progresses.
