All-rounder Aliya Riaz remained unbeaten again in a warm-up match of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup as Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by seven runs at the Lincoln Green on Wednesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bangladesh fell seven runs short in their chase of Pakistan's 199, the Bismah Maroof-led side joined England and India as the teams to win both of their warm-up matches ahead of the mega event.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bangladesh and Pakistan managed 3.1 overs before going off for a lengthy rain delay but restarted for a 42-over game as per the DLS method.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pakistan started brightly after the restart as Nahida Khan took two boundaries off the bowling of Suraiya Azmin.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Fariha Trisna then took the top-three wickets as Pakistan slipped to three for 38 before Bismah Maroof and Javeria Khan stabilised the side.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Khan reached 44 runs before being stumped with Maroof falling four balls later, the first of Ritu Moni's three wickets on her way to three for 35.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pakistan reached 199\/7, with Aliya Riaz again not out, this time on 45 off 50 balls, backing up her 62 not out in a surprise warm-up win against hosts New Zealand. Fatima Sana was another contributor with 29 off 33 balls.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bangladesh made a fast start in chasing down their target as Shamima Sultana scored 12 from Sana's first over. Sana had the last laugh as she bowled Shamima for 18.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
From there onwards, Bangladesh lost wickets at regular intervals despite pushing Pakistan all the way.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Fargana Hoque was another of Sana's victims as she was caught and bowled for 71 from 95 balls while giving Bangladesh a fighting chance of chasing the target.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In the end, Bangladesh fell eight runs short of their DLS target as Lata Mondol was run out by Sidra Nawaz with Bangladesh on 194 with four balls remaining.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sana was the pick of bowlers for Pakistan, taking 4\/47 in nine overs while Nashra Sandhu returned with figures of 3\/22 in 8.2 overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With India and Pakistan both coming off unbeaten in their warm-up matches, the opening match for the two teams up against each other on March 6 at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui will be a mouth-watering affair.<\/p>\r\n\r\n