India trounce Pakistan to win first-ever women's cricket series by AFP

---

Ground:	Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Scorecard:	Pakistan Women v India Under-21s Women
Player:	Tasqeen Qadeer, Shamsa Hashmi, KV Jain, AA Deshpande
Event:	India Under-21s Women in Pakistan 2005/06

---

DateLine: 1st October 2005

 

India routed Pakistan by eight wickets in the third one-day match here on Saturday, taking the first-ever women's cricket series between the arch rivals 3-0, with one match still to be played.

 

India's under-21 team successfully chased a 158-run target for the loss of only two wickets after they bundled their opponents out for 157 in 38.5 overs. The fourth and final match will be played here on Sunday.

 

Pakistan, who went down by 33 and 30 runs respectively in the first two matches earlier in the week, once again failed to put up a big total with only captain Shamsa Hashmi hitting 51 and Taskeen Qadir making 44.

 

Shamsa, who scored 30 and 41 not out in the first two matches, hit six boundaries and the first six of the series but received little support from her colleagues.

 

Rumeli Dhar, Diana David and Soujanya Manukonda took two wickets apiece.

 

India achieved the target in 32.5 overs with captain Karuna Jain chipping in with a brilliant 59 and Anagha Deshpande scoring an unbeaten 57.

 

"It is fantastic to win but matches were very hard fought. We were given tough fights in the first two matches," said Jain.

 

India revived bilateral sporting ties with Pakistan last year after a three-year ban due to political reasons. India's men's cricket team toured Pakistan, the first tour by any Indian cricket team since 1989.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)