Barbados Women’s Cricket Team debuted in the international arena at the Commonwealth Games on Friday, and it was a historic one. With the experience of the team’s West Indies senior players, the ladies recorded a 15-run victory over Pakistan Women.
Photo Credit: ESPNCricinfo
Barbados bats first.
Pakistan, led by Bismah Maharoof won the toss in the day-night encounter at the Edgbaston Stadium and elected to bowl first. The decision paid off as the skipper herself caught the dangerous Deandra Dottin off Diana Baig for just 8 on the fifth ball of the day. Barbados captain Hayley Matthews joined Kycia Knight at the crease and the pair plodded along at about a run-a-ball for the first ten overs. Both Knight and Matthews batted carefully extracting the singles and dispatching the odd bad balls wherever they could, as the Pakistani bowlers persisted with good lines and lengths. The pair put on a 107-run stand in 98 balls before Matthews attempted a cheeky ramp shot and was caught behind by the wicketkeeper. Knight carried on to register a career-best score of 62 not out, which included nine boundaries – smashing four of them toward the end of the innings. Barbados ended their innings with 144 for the loss of 4 wickets at the end of their allotted 20 overs.
‘See-saw’ second innings.
Barbados got off to a dream start as West Indies opening bowler Shamilia Connell had opener Iram Javed caught behind off the first ball of the Pakistan innings. Omaima Sohail would soon depart in a chaotic third over as she first survived an LBW appeal – but was run out by a direct throw from Matthews while attempting a quick single. Matthews also bowled four crucial and economical overs for 13 runs, accounting for the wicket of Muneeba Ali along the way. All-rounder Nidia Dar then threatened to take the game away from Barbados as she continually found the boundary and smacked Connell for a huge six after being struck on the helmet in the same over. However, some good fielding ensured that the pressure remained on the Pakistanis and with Aliya Riaz struggling to 14 off 24, it was down to the last-over pair of Dar and Ayesha Naseem to try to get 27 off 6 balls for victory. A six, then a dropped catch would have momentarily scared Barbados, but with Hayley catching Naseem off the last ball of the innings, Barbados would come away with a historic victory over a fairly experienced Pakistan team.
The Barbados Women had secured their spot in this tournament as Champions of the regional T20 Blaze 2020 as the 2021 edition was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The T20 Blaze was meant to determine which team would represent the Caribbean at the Commonwealth Games as the West Indies had directly qualified based on ICC rankings in April 2021.
Barbados will take on reigning ICC World Cup Champions Australia in their second match on Sunday 31 July at 1:00 pm local time.
BARBADOS WOMEN 144/4 (20 overs)
Kycia Knight 62* (56)
Hayley Matthews 51 (50)
Fatima Sana 2/41 (4 overs)
Diana Baig 1/14 (2 overs)
PAKISTAN WOMEN 129/6 (20 overs)
Nidia Dar 50 (31)
Muneeba Ali 17 (19)
Hayley Matthews 1/13 (4 overs)
Shamilia Connell 1/28 (4 overs)
