Fatima, Nashra and Omaima guide Pakistan Women to victory

North Sound (Agencies): Fatima Sana and Nashra Sandhu’s four-wicket hauls guided Pakistan Women to victory against the West Indies Women in the fourth ODI in North Sound on Friday. The visitors chased down the target of 211 with four wickets in hand and nine balls to spare, with Omaima Sohail top-scoring with an 89-ball 61. West Indies Women, though, had already sealed the series and lead 3-1.
Asked to bat first after a delayed start, the hosts rode on Kyshona Knight’s 88 off 140 balls and captain Stafaine Taylor’s 77-ball 49 before the team suffered a collapse. Medium-pacer Sana struck early to dismiss both openers Hayles Matthews and Deandra Dottin inside eight overs, but Knight and Taylor put on 142 runs together to stabilise the innings. It was also the highest partnership for the third wicket in ODIs for the West Indies Women.
Taylor’s dismissal in the 40th over triggered a collapse as the West Indies went from 171 for 2 to eventually be bowled out for 210 in 49.4 overs. Sana was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers, claiming 4 for 30 – including two maidens – in her eight overs. Left-arm spinner Sandhu took 4 for 49 in 9.4 overs.
Despite losing top-order batters Muneeba Ali and captain Javeria Khan early in the chase, Sidra Ameen and Sohail ensured Pakistan crossed the finish line. Shakira Selman and Mathews picked up two wickets apiece for the West Indies. However, it wasn’t enough to threaten the visitors. “I think we fell short by about 15 to 20 runs,” Anisa Mohammed, West Indies Women’s vice-captain, told CWI media after the loss.
“At the beginning of the series, we kept saying we wanted to score over 225 that would give them some competition, and we just fell short today. The pitch was a bit damp at the start, so our batters found it a bit hard to score but having Kyshona batting really well and seeing us through, I think just in the middle, coming down to the end we lost too many wickets at crucial times. As bowlers, we weren’t as consistent as we should have been.”