Fatima Sana: The teen star making waves
BY THE NUMBERS
ODIs
11 wickets at 15.09. One five-wicket haul. Best figures of 5/39
43 runs at 14.33. High score of 28*
Two T20Is
Two wickets at 22.5 with an economy of
HUGE STRIDES WITH THE BALL
The 19-year-old from Karachi claimed her maiden international five-wicket haul during the ODI series against West Indies, taking 5/39 in the fifth and final match.
The five-for was the cherry on top of a campaign in which Sana developed impressively.
The rookie seamer took 11 wickets across the five ODIs at just 15.09 runs apiece, making it comfortably her best series to date. She was the series’ second-highest wicket-taker and claimed six more scalps than the next best Pakistani bowler.
Sana’s two best performances coincided with Pakistan’s two wins of the series with the young gun claiming Player of the Match honours in both the fourth and fifth ODIs.
Sana took what were then career-best figures of 4/30 in the fourth ODI, accounting for both openers inside the first eight overs before dismissing Chinelle Henry and Rashada Williams to set up a four-wicket win.
She of course backed that up with a five-for in the fifth match, removing Deandra Dottin and Britney Cooper when they were each well set before striking regularly through the middle-order and tail to seal a 22-run win.
Pakistan will be hopeful she continues this progress when they next take the field.
A BRILLIANT CAMEO WITH THE BAT
Primarily in the team for her abilities with the ball, Sana put in a star showing with the bat in the fifth ODI against West Indies, scoring a 19-ball 28 not out.
Coming out to bat at 150/6 with less than six overs to go in a rain-shortened innings, Sana played with freedom, stroking four boundaries as she and Ayesha Naseem gave Pakistan’s innings the injection of pace it needed.
Regularly entrusted to bat at No.8, Sana’s 28 was another step in the right direction from the promising youngster and one that should excite Pakistan heading into the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2022.
IMPRESSING IN THE T20IS
Sana took four wickets in the T20I series against West Indies, with two of those coming in the penultimate match, which fell in the July qualification period.
The quick took 2/18 from her four overs, striking key blows by dismissing Deandra Dottin (17) and Stafanie Taylor (5).
While the two-for wasn’t enough to set up a victory for Pakistan, it was a sign of things to come from Sana in the ODI series.