LAHORE
\nOpening batter of Pakistan\u2019s women\u2019s cricket team Sidra Amin has had a phenomenal 2022. The 30-year-old cricketer has scored three centuries in 49 ODIs \u2014 all in 2022.
\nHer unbeaten 176 off 151 balls, which included 20 fours and one six against Ireland in the first match of the ODI series on Friday, not only helped her side win by a margin of 128 runs, but also led Pakistan toward clinching crucial ICC Women\u2019s Championship points. Before Friday\u2019s match, Sidra took part in 10 ODIs this year and has scored 420 runs, which included two centuries \u2014 104 against Bangladesh \u2014 the first century by a Pakistan batter in the ICC Women\u2019s World Cup and 123 against Sri Lanka in the ICC Women\u2019s Championship match at the Southend Club, Karachi in June.
\nHer knock of 176 is the highest individual score amongst Pakistan\u2019s batters, surpassing Javeria Khan\u2019s 133 not out against Sri Lanka at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in January 2015. Sidra\u2019s three centuries to date have allowed her to surpass Javeria\u2019s record of most centuries (two) for a Pakistan batter in the 50-over format.
\nIreland\u2019s players \u2014 who are on their maiden tour to Pakistan for six limited-overs matches these days \u2014 will be eager to bounce back when both sides meet again for the second ODI on Sunday at the Gaddafi Stadium.
\nRecalling her innings and match-winning record first-wicket partnership with Muneeba Ali, who scored her maiden ODI century, the Lahore-born batter in an exclusive conversation for PCB Digital said: \u201cI always work hard and prepare myself before going into the match. But this year, I trusted and backed myself to do well. I have changed my approach a bit, now I am thinking about going for runs on every ball and it is paying dividends now.\u201d
\nSidra, who has 1,180 ODI runs to her name in 49 matches, praised the support she received from her teammates and the confidence given in galvanising her to register an epic ton on Friday.
\n\u201cI am very happy with my innings, when I reached triple figures, I had made up my mind to go for more runs and the support I was getting from the dressing room helped me to score big and achieve the record.\u201d
\nHeading into the series, Sidra had only played three of her 80 international matches at her home ground \u2014 the Gaddafi Stadium \u2014 and had scores of 21, 4, and 19, and these outings against Bangladesh in 2019.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LAHORE Opening batter of Pakistan\u2019s women\u2019s cricket team Sidra Amin has had a phenomenal 2022. The 30-year-old cricketer has scored three centuries in 49 ODIs \u2014 all in 2022. Her unbeaten 176 off 151 balls, which included 20 fours and one six against Ireland in the first match of the ODI series on Friday, not […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":293470,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-293451","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n