Pakistan spinners caught West Indies batters in a web as the green shirts recorded eight wickets victory in Hamilton to end their four-match losing streak in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 on Monday.
Off-spinner Nida Dar recorded outstanding figures of 4-0-10-4 and left-arm spinner Anam Amin displayed tremendous control and accuracy for figures of 4-1-6-0 as the West Indies managed 89 for seven in a match reduced to 20-over-a-side due to rain and wet conditions.
In their turn at the wicket, Muneeba Ali scored 37 on her World Cup debut with five fours from 43 balls, while Omaima Sohail scored 22 not out and Bismah Maroof contributed 20 not out to steer Pakistan home with seven balls and eight wickets standing.
Muneeba added 35 runs for the second wicket with Bismah after she had provided Pakistan a 22-run first wicket start with Sidra Ameen. Bismah and Omaima then ensured there were no hiccups in a cool and calculated run-chase as they put on 33 runs for the unfinished third wicket.
This was Pakistan’s only the third victory in the Women’s World Cup since their debut in 1997 and has come at the back of 18 successive defeats. In the 2009 event in Australia, they had defeated Sri Lanka by 57 runs and West Indies by four wickets.
In New Zealand alone, this victory has come at the back of 11 consecutive loses.
While Pakistan are already out of contention for a place in the semi-finals, the result has dented West Indies’ chances of progressing to the knock-out stage. This was West Indies’ third loss in six matches, leaving them in a must-win situation against South Africa.
West Indies, put into bat after a long wait, raced to 19 for no loss in three overs after Diana Baig’s over cost 13 runs. But then Anam got into action and mesmerised West Indies batters with her crafty and according-to-field bowling. She not only dried the runs but also suffocated West Indies batters, who neither had any answers nor clues how to get her into gaps to keep the scoreboard moving.
Nida Dar, later adjudged player of the match, then pounced on the pressure created by Anam and struck four times in quick successions as the West Indies batters continued to plunge into deeper problems.
Nida dismissed West Indies top-scorer Deandra Dottin (27) and then followed up with wickets of Shemaine Campbelle (seven), Kycia Knight (eight) and Chinelle Henry (zero) as Pakistan girls continued to grow in confidence by also demonstrating agility and athleticism in the field.
Beside Nida and Anam, Fatima Sana (4-0-14-1) and Nashra Sandhu (4-0-24-1) also bowled well.
After Pakistan spinners held the West Indies batters by the scruff of their necks as they slumped to 63 for seven in 16.1 overs, Afy Fletcher (12 not out) and Aaliyah Alleyne (nine not out) added 26 runs off 23 balls to bring some stability to the score.
Dottin’s 27 came off 35 balls and included five fours, while Taylor’s faced 31 balls for her 18.
Scores in brief
West Indies 89-7, 20 overs (Deandra Dottin 27, Stafanie Taylor 18; Nida Dar 4-0-10-4, Anam Amin 4-1-6-0)
Pakistan 90-2, 18.5 overs (Muneeba Ali 37, Omaima Sohail 22 not out, Bismah Maroof 20 not out)
Pakistan’s next match: v England, 24 March, Christchurch
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