BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE growing tide of momentum shifted away from the West Indies women yesterday (Apr. 29) at the Edgar Gilbert Sports Complex as Pakistan earned an eight-wicket victory to redeem themselves in their final Twenty20 match.
West Indies had recorded four and six-wicket victories in their first two encounters with Pakistan in Molineaux this week, but the visitors rebounded in grand fashion thanks to three-wicket hauls from Sultana Yousaf and Sana Mir.
Pakistan chose to field first after having to bat in the prior two matches and quickly displayed their hunger for redemption when Britney Cooper was run out in the first over. Fellow opener Juliana Nero (17) was the next to go after a brief partnership with Cordel Jack.
Jack did her best to stabilize the side as she surged to 46, but support was lacking from key players such as Captain Merissa Aguilleira (2), Pamela Lavine (12) and Deandra Dottin (0) as Yousaf and Mir recorded figures of 3 for 30 and 3 for 17, respectively.
Thanks to Jack’s performance with the bat, West Indies reached a defendable total of 105 from their 20 overs.
Hopes of repeating the series sweep that took place against Sri Lanka earlier this month were dashed, however, when right-hander Sajjida Shah found the boundary five times on her way to an unbeaten 51 off of 54 balls.
Nain Abidi and Bismah Maroof added 20 and 14, respectively, as Pakistan cruised easily to 106/2 from 18.5 overs.
The victory will likely give Pakistan’s women a confidence boost heading into the ICC World Twenty20 tournament’s first round, which begins on May 5 at Warner Park.
Windies will have a chance to redeem themselves on May 2 when they engage Pakistan at the St. Pauls Sports Complex in a One Day International match ahead of the tournament’s start.
