Lahore, April 10 – Pakistan women’s cricket team continued their dominant form in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 Qualifiers with a commanding six-wicket win over Scotland, thanks to a stellar unbeaten knock by all-rounder Aliya Riaz. This victory marks Pakistan’s second consecutive win in the qualifiers, keeping their World Cup hopes firmly on track.
Pakistan Cruise to Victory in Rain-Affected Clash
In a match reduced to 32 overs per side due to heavy rain at the Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) Ground, Pakistan were set a target of 187 under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method. The hosts chased it down comfortably, reaching 190/4 with eight balls to spare.
Aliya Riaz was named Player of the Match for her composed innings of 68 not out off 70 balls, featuring seven fours and a six. Her performance anchored the chase and ensured Pakistan overcame early setbacks.
“I focused on building a partnership and took the innings ball by ball,” Aliya said during the post-match presentation. “The goal is to qualify for the World Cup, and we’re playing with that responsibility in mind.”
Early Wickets Shake Pakistan Before Riaz and Muneeba Rebuild
Chasing 187, Pakistan suffered early jolts as Gull Feroza (2) and Sidra Amin (7) fell cheaply, leaving the team at 36/2. However, opener Muneeba Ali and Aliya Riaz steadied the innings with a crucial 93-run stand.
Muneeba capitalized on two dropped catches by Abbi Aitken-Drummond — on 37 and 54 — and went on to score 71 runs, further tilting the game in Pakistan’s favor.
Scotland’s Batting Anchored by Captain Kathryn Bryce
Earlier, after being asked to bat first, Scotland posted 186/9 in their allotted 32 overs. Captain Kathryn Bryce led from the front with a brilliant 91 off 96 balls, hitting 10 boundaries and a six before being bowled by her counterpart, Fatima Sana.
Fatima was the standout bowler for Pakistan, finishing with 4/23. She received valuable support from Sadia Iqbal and Diana Baig, who removed Scotland’s openers early. Nashra Sandhu also chipped in by dismissing Sarah Bryce, breaking a steady third-wicket partnership.
Scotland struggled to build momentum after losing half their side for 134 in the 25th over, with wickets tumbling at regular intervals.
Match Delay and Tournament Format
The game’s start was delayed by three hours due to a wet outfield caused by rain in Lahore. Despite the delay, both teams displayed resilience in tricky conditions.
The six-team ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers 2025 include Pakistan (host), Scotland, Ireland, Bangladesh, Thailand, and the West Indies. The tournament follows a single round-robin format, with matches being held at Gaddafi Stadium and LCCA Ground from April 9 to April 19.
The top two teams will qualify for the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup, set to take place in India later this year.
Pakistan’s Dominant Start to the Tournament
Earlier in the week, Pakistan opened their campaign with a 38-run win over Ireland in a low-scoring thriller. Defending a total of 217, bowlers Diana Baig and Nashra Sandhu starred with four and three wickets, respectively, bowling out Ireland for 179.
Squads
Pakistan Playing XI: Muneeba Ali, Gull Feroza, Sidra Amin, Aliya Riaz, Omaima Sohail, Fatima Sana (C), Sidra Nawaz, Rameen Shamim, Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal
Scotland Playing XI: Abbi Aitken-Drummond, Pippa Sproul, Kathryn Bryce (C), Sarah Bryce, Ailsa Lister, Megan McColl, Katherine Fraser, Priyanaz Chatterji, Chloe Abel, Rachel Slater, Abtaha Maqsood