12-year old Sajjida leads Pakistan Women to thrilling one-wicket victory against Holland

Pakistan Women beat the favourites Holland by one wicket in a cliff-hanger of a match, played under lights at Karachi's National Stadium, to take a 1-0 lead in the seven match series. However, it was wayward bowling by the Dutch women more than anything else that led to their own demise. Failing to get their line and length right, they gave away 66 extras, of which 45 came in wides.

Requiring 157 in the allotted 50 overs, Pakistan Women struggled initially, losing wickets at regular intervals. However, Sajjida Shah, the 12-year-old middle-order batswoman, kept her cool in these adverse circumstances and saw her side home safely.

She added 50 for the 6th wicket with Khursheed Jabeen (16) to take the side to 137 by the 41st over. However, at this juncture the visitors seemed to be running away with the match, taking four Pakistani wickets for the addition of just eight runs.

Huda Ziad (1*) safely saw off the remaining overs from one end, whereas the valiant Sajjida kept scoring from the other, until the target was reached on the second ball of the last over bowled by Rambaldo.

Sajjida remained unbeaten on 28 (from 112 balls). Apart from her, Kiran Baluch and Rabia Khan contributed 15 each and the opener Zehmurad Afzal made 10.

For Holland, Salomons bowled really tidily giving away just 13 runs in her 10 overs, claiming three wickets. Rambaldo took two wickets for 34, while van Leeuwen, Jharap, and Koster took one wicket apiece.

Earlier, the Pakistan bowlers did well to contain their Dutch counterparts to 156 for 8 in their 50 overs. Sticking to a tight line and length, they allowed minimum liberty to the Dutch to play shots. That's why, apart from the 34 extras, only two batswomen could take their personal scores past 20. Pauline te Beest remained the top scorer in the upper order, getting 20 off 41 ball, which contained three boundaries.

Oudolf did a commendable job batting at number eight, hitting 21 off 37 balls (one four), as she added 46 for the Rambaldo (17 off 52 balls, with 2 boundaries), after they had been reduced to 96 for 6 in the 32nd over.

The skipper Shaiza Khan and Khursheed Jabeen bowled tidily for Pakistan, taking three wickets each for 26 and 30 runs respectively in their ten overs. Kiran Baloch and Zehmurad Afzal chipped in with one wicket each for 28 (10 overs) and 24 (8 overs), respectively.

Sajjida Shah was declared woman of the match for her excellent match-winning knock of 28. The next match in the series will be played at the same venue on Wednesday, 11th April 2001.