Governor-General's XI v Pakistan – Women
Pakistan looked to be cruising to victory but an Amanda-Jade Wellington-inspired collapse got the Governor-General's XI over the line
Emily Collin
13 January 2023, 06:30 PM AEST
Amanda-Jade Wellington took advantage of bowler-friendly conditions at Allan Border Field to bowl the Governor-General’s XI to a comprehensive 53-run victory over Pakistan in the traditional fixture.
A strong bowling display from Pakistan led by Fatima Sana Khan, Diana Baig and Nida Dar had restricted the Governor-General’s XI to what seemed a below-par total of 235, despite a crucial 129-run partnership between Erin Burns and Charli Knott.
But a masterclass in leg-spin from Amanda Jade-Wellington (4-33), backed up by Nicola Hancock (2-20) and Courtney Sippel (1-32) saw the visitors lose their last eight wickets for 37 runs to be all out for 182, resulting in a 53-run win for the hosts.
Hancock struck early for the Governor-General’s XI, removing dangerous opener Muneeba Ali for 12 in the fifth over of the chase, bringing Pakistani captain Maroof to the crease.
Maroof dug in alongside opener Sidra Amin for a vital 85-run stand to lift the visitors to 1-97 in the 25th over before a sharp direct hit from Sippel in the field saw Sidra run out for 34 and the partnership broken.
As wickets tumbled around her, Maroof held strong until captain Ashleigh Gardner threw the ball to Wellington who proceeded to trap the visiting captain in front for a well-made 74 off 103 that included eight boundaries.
As the run-rate continued to grow and the pressure increased on the Pakistan batters, Wellington took hold of the match in Brisbane to snare three wickets in quick succession to tip the scales in favour of the hosts.
It was Knott (1-23), who earlier starred with the bat, who took the final wicket of Tuba Hassan for 1 to seal victory for the Governer-General’s XI.
The Governor-General’s XI made a horror start to their batting innings after being sent in by Pakistan.
Young Queensland batter Georgia Voll was undone by an out-swinging delivery from Sana Khan for a duck, while Phoebe Litchfield suffered the same fate two overs later, falling victim to Baig.
Captain Gardner strode to the crease with her side in trouble at 2-0, but the No.1 T20 allrounder in the world who has been in hot form in the green and gold was unable to go big at Allan Border Field and was out for 7 off Sana Khan.
At 3-8, the Governor-General’s XI desperately needed to rebuild and it was Knott (66 off 83) who combined with Erin Burns (74 off 92) for a brilliant 129-run stand to provide the rescue effort.
It wasn’t until the 36th over when Dar was finally able to dismiss Burns and the Governor-General’s XI had scraped to a solid position at 5-165.
But the middle order had no answers to Dar’s offspin as she claimed 4-46 at the backend of the innings to see the hosts bowled out for 235 in the final over of the afternoon.
CommBank ODI Series
Monday Jan 16: Allan Border Field, Brisbane 10:05am
Wednesday Jan 18: Allan Border Field, Brisbane 10:05am
Saturday Jan 21: North Sydney Oval, 11:05am
Buy #AUSvPAK ODI tickets here
Australia ODI squad: Meg Lanning (c), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland
Pakistan ODI squad: Bismah Maroof (c), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Naseem, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali, Nashra Sandhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz, Tuba Hassan
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