Pak players on ICC Women's Championship journey.

LAHORE -- Pakistan national women cricket team's journey in the ICC Women Championship 2017-20 culminated in the Bismah Maroof-led side breaking into the top-four of the eight-team tournament standings with their third ODI against England women getting washed-out in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.

For a side which sits seventh on the ICC Women's ODIs team rankings, the past two years have seen them achieve new heights by recording historic victories on the basis of some outstanding individual performances and remarkable teamwork, said the information made available here on Sunday by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Pakistan's campaign began in October 2017 with a three-ODI home series against New Zealand women. Though Pakistan lost the series 2-1, they made history in the final one-dayer by beating New Zealand for the first time at the back of Sana Mir's four-fer. With seven wickets at an average of 14.57 in three matches, the right-arm off-spinner was the leading wicket-taker in the series.

Sana Mir said, "Our journey in the tournament had begun after a very tough 2017 World Cup and I was given the opportunity to bowl with the new ball. We had come very close to beating New Zealand in the first ODI but we couldn't cross the rope. But, that moment came in the last match when we beat them by five wickets.

"Those four wickets are more special to me than any five-fer as they helped Pakistan to secure a victory in a historic match."

Bismah Maroof said the, "Winning against New Zealand was very important for us as it helped us gain momentum and it gave us confidence that we can do something in this championship. That historic win went a long way in giving us the self-belief which helped us in our next series."

Pakistan's second assignment in the ICC Women's Championship was the tour of Sri Lanka in March 2018 where they recorded their first-ODI series win since October 2015. Sana Mir, leading from front, rolled over the opposition taking 10 wickets at a phenomenal average of 8.80 in three matches. Javeria Khan became only the second Pakistan batter to score two ODI centuries with a 113 not out in the first contest.

Javeria Khan said, " The Sri Lanka series was quite a memorable one. It gave a lot of confidence to the girls and boosted the team's morale. Every individual played according to her role, which helped us outclass the opposition in all three facets of the game. The credit for that victory goes to entire unit."

"On a personal note, it was very...