WT20 WC: Muneeba Ali becomes Pakistan's first centurion in WT20Is
Muneeba Ali scripted history on Wednesday (February 15), becoming the first Pakistani player to slam a ton in Women's T20Is. She accomplished the milestone during her side's clash against Ireland in the ongoing ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 102 off just 68 balls (14 boundaries). Her efforts guided Pakistan to a 70-run win. Here we look at her stats.
A power-packed knock from Muneeba
Ireland won the toss and opted to bowl at Newlands, Cape Town. Pakistan were off to a brilliant start as Muneeba went after the bowlers from the outset. While she didn't get much support from Javeria Khan (6) or skipper Bismah Maroof (4), the opener added 101 runs alongside Nida Dar (33) for the third wicket. Muneeba eventually fell prey to pacer Leah Paul.
First Pakistan batter with a WT20I ton
Muneeba became the first Pakistani and 33rd player overall to slam a WT20I hundred. Nida Dar's 75 against South Africa in May 2019 was the previous individual-highest score by a Pakistan player in the format. Muneeba also became only the sixth player to smoke a century in WT20 WCs. Only Australia's Meg Lanning and WI's Hayley Matthews had previously scored WT20I tons versus Ireland.
Muneeba joins the list of elites
Lanning (126), WI's Deandra Dottin (112*), England's Heather Knight (108*), India's Harmanpreet Kaur (103) and South Africa's Lizelle Lee (101) are the only other batters to record a century in Women's T20 World Cups.
A look at her WT20I career
Muneeba debuted in the format back in 2016. She has so far accumulated 655 runs in 45 games at 16.37 (SR: 83.97). She hadn't breached the 50-run mark in the format before smoking a ton against the Irish team. The wicketkeeper-batter is Pakistan's seventh-leading run-getter in WT20Is. In WT20 WCs, she has raced to 189 runs in 11 games at 23.62.
How did the game pan out?
Muneeba and Dar helped Pakistan post 165/5. Right-arm pacer Arlene Kelly scalped two wickets for Ireland (2/27). In reply, the Irish team got folded for just 95 with Orla Prendergast (31) being the only batter to cross the 30-run mark. Left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu scalped a four-fer (4/18). Pakistan are now third in the Group B standings with one win and a defeat.
