Venue : Manuka Oval, Canberra
Toss : West Indies Women won the toss and opt to bat
Squad
Pakistan Women (Playing XI): Javeria Khan, Muneeba Ali, Bismah Maroof(c), Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Iram Javed, Aliya Riaz, Sidra Nawaz(w), Aiman Anwer, Diana Baig, Anam Amin
West Indies Women (Playing XI): Hayley Matthews, Lee-Ann Kirby, Stafanie Taylor(c), Deandra Dottin, Shemaine Campbelle(w), Chedean Nation, Chinelle Henry, Shakera Selman, Anisa Mohammed, Afy Fletcher, Shamilia Connell
Baig’s impressive bowling
Hayley Matthews and Lee-Ann Kirby are at the crease, Hayley Matthews is on strike. Baig opens the attack against West Indies. Baig dismissed Hayley Matthewsin by LBW in the very first ball and makes the match interesting. Stafanie Taylor joins hand with Lee-Ann Kirby to play a steady game as they lose one of their opener for golden duck. This duo start settle by gathering runs in an stable form. But Baig again with her bowling spell in the 4th over picked Lee-Ann Kirby’s wicket and break the partnership.
Post power play West Indies scored only 28 runs for two wicket loss. Nida Dar dismissed Dottin in the sixth over, where West Indies lose three wicket for a total of 28 runs. Captain Stafanie Taylor and wicket keeper Shemaine Campbelle paired, now the responsibility lies over them.
Partnership that saved West Indies
This duo paired and starts strike in a well controlled form, Campbelle with a couple of sixes boost the total. The must needed partnership for West Indies as its top order players failed to prove them self. The impressive game from Campbelle comes to an end when Anam Amin dismiss her with the review. This duo added 63 runs in total that helped West Indies to score further. In the very next over Chinelle Henry return pavilion with scoring 4 runs.
Captain Taylor dismissed for 43 runs by Nida Dar when West Indies scored 111 runs with 8 balls remaining. Pakistan packed West Indies for 124 runs where Diana Baig, Aiman Anwer and Nida Dar bagged two wickets for each.
Over-view
West Indies finish with 124 on the board. They lost three quick wickets after opting to bat first, Taylor and Campbelle led the rescue act one again – adding 63 runs for the fourth wicket. Both made an identical 43 each to help their team post a score on the board
Notable Opening partnership
Pakistan keen to win this match to register their maiden win in the T20I World cup series 2020. With a descent score to chase down, Muneeba Ali and Javeria Khan get to the crease, Muneeba Ali is on strike. Shamilia Connell opens the attack for West Indies. Without any rush Pakistan played in a controlled form, results in scoring 48 runs without any loss by the end of power play.
Muneeba Ali and Javeria Khan scored 50 runs for the opening partnership and provide the strong base for Pakistan. Javeria Khan lose her wicket to the West Indies skipper Stafanie Taylor for 35 runs, while Pakistan scored 58 runs. Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof paired with Muneeba Ali and moved the team further.
Bismah Maroof dragged Pakistan towards victory
After 10 overs Pakistan scored 66 runs for a wicket loss and place them self in a comfortable zone. Soon the other opener Muneeba Ali lose her wicket to Afy Fletche when she scored 25 runs. Though Pakistan lose two wickets they seems to be safe with a score of 77 runs in 12 overs.
The required run rate has inched over the 6-run mark. But with 8 wickets in hand Pakistan Women played without any pressure. With 36 required from 36 balls both the team seems to play a serious game. But with Bismah Maroof on Pakistan side it seems simple as Maroof strike a boundary in each over and move Pakistan further in game.
Finishes off in style
With 6 needed of 18 balls, Pakistan paved the way for the victory. Pakistan skipper with a boundary finishes things off in style. After hitting the winning runs Maroof jogs across to the other end with her arms wide open in joy. Pakistan bagged their first victory in this World cup series.
Player of the match
Javeria Khan(Pakistan)
Javeria Khan : I am really surprised with this award, I think Diana deserved it more than me. But it was a team effort. We have worked on our running between the wickets, our fielding and that paid off today. Initially it wasn’t coming onto the bat nicely, but the wicket became better to bat on eventually. I thought of taking charge early on so that the middle order batsmen could take their time. I’d like to share this award with Diana.
Captain’s view
Bismah Maroof, Pakistan captain: We wanted this win in order to get the momentum going, very pleased with the effort. We got wickets at crucial time. Diana got us early wickets and that helped us to restrict them below 125. Our openers played really well and we as a team are smart cricketers. Nida stayed with me, rotated the strike well and kept the scoreboard ticking. We are looking forward to do well in the remaining matches.
Stafanie Taylor, West Indies captain: With the type of batters we have we should be scoring more than 150 and we haven’t been doing that. The batters need to show hunger in the first 6 overs and need to rotate the strike. That’s where we’ve been lacking. But we have been losing early wickets, that’s where we have struggled. The bowling has been terrific. The pacers have been really good, but not to take anything away from Pakistan. There’s always room for improvement, we keep saying that. We need to come out and show our prowess in the next match.
