West Indies cruised into a 2-0 series lead over Pakistan with a convincing victory in the second One Day International at Coolidge. Pakistan used just 42.4 of their allocated 50 overs as the West Indies spinners took a stranglehold on the game in Antigua, with the final six wickets falling for just 24 runs.
And the reply was a simple one for the hosts, with Hayley Matthews the first wicket to fall when she was run out by Diana Baig for a lively 49 and Kycia Knight the only other dismissal, also run out for 12.
The game got off to a sparkling start as Shakera Selman’s double contribution left Pakistan reeling on 13/2. The West Indies seamer picked up the opening wicket of the day when she had opener Ayesha Zafar caught by Kyshona Knight. And it was Selman’s turn to snaffle the catch nine balls later as captain Javeria Khan fell to Shamilia Connell.
A rattled Pakistan took their time to bed in and recover, with opener Muneeba Ali leading the response with a composed 37. But when Ali fell in the 22nd over it looked increasingly unlikely that Pakistan would be able to post a competitive total, and so it proved.
Off-spinner Mohammed did much of the damage, picking up four wickets as Pakistan’s tail collapsed, with number’s seven to 11 adding just eight runs as the tourists posted 120 all out.
Such a meagre total was never likely to trouble the West Indies’ batting line-up, and a solid opening partnership of 66 between Matthews and Kyshona Knight extinguished any slim hopes that Pakistan had.
A run out to dismiss Matthews for 49 slowed the home team’s progress a touch, and a second run out of the afternoon also did for Kycia Knight after a patient 12 from 25 balls. But Deandra Dottin helped the West Indies race to victory, creaming three boundaries in her 15-ball 13.
And it fell to Knight, who had anchored the innings superbly, to knock a single to wrap up the win with 19 overs of the game still remaining. The 29-year-old Barbadian finished with an unbeaten 39 from 90 deliveries, exactly what her team needed in the circumstances.
The two squads will face off again on Monday at North Sound, Antigua, with three matches of the ODI series still remaining. (ICC)