Career-best bowling figures of 4/26 and a patient 26 runs by Hayley Matthews powered the West Indies Women to a series win over the Pakistan Women in the second of the three-match ODI series today.
The Pakistan Women once again won the toss and put the West Indies Women to bat. The opening pair of Rashada Williams and Deandra Dottin put on a decent partnership of 31 runs before Williams would fall for 14. Fresh off her century two days ago, Dottin once again top-scored with a careful 34, receiving support to stabilise the innings from Matthews, Shemaine Campbelle, and captain Stafanie Taylor, who both contributed 23 to the score. However, the Pakistan bowling attack would prove to be too much for the West Indies in this second match. The pace of Fatima Sana and Omaima Sohail, combined with the spin of Anam Amin, would see West Indies get to only 153 before they were all out in 45.4 overs.
While 154 for victory seemed like an achievable target within 50 overs, the West Indies picked up wickets at regular intervals, ensuring that chasing that total would not be a walk in the park for Pakistan. A 31-run sixth-wicket partnership between Sohail and Sana threatened to steal the victory from the West Indies but Matthews would break the partnership, allowing Shamilia Connell to make light work of the lower order – achieving a double-wicket maiden in the 38th over. Pakistan were 111 for 5 at the end of the 36 over needing just 43 from 14 overs, but losing the last five wickets for just five runs resulted in the team being dismissed inside 40 overs for 116, handing a 37-run victory to the West Indies. Connell would eventually finish with 3 wickets. Anisa Mohammed and Shakera Selman claimed one wicket each with their bowling efforts.
The West Indies will be extremely pleased with their bowling department, which would increase their confidence to defend almost any score as they head into the ICC World Cup qualifiers at the end of this month.
MATCH SUMMARY
WI-W 153 all out (45.4 overs)
Deandra Dottin 34
Hayley Matthews 26
Stafanie Taylor 23
Shemaine Campbelle 23
Anam Amin 2/21
Fatima Sana 2/19
Omaima Sohail 2/25
PAK-W 116 all out (39.2 overs)
Omaima Sohail 27
Javeria Khan 24
Muneeba Ali 17
Hayley Matthews 4/26
Shamilia Connell 3/18
Congratulations to the West Indies women on achieving the series win against Pakistan. They’ve worked hard under Coach Courtney Walsh and technical staff.