GRENVILLE, Grenada, CMC – West Indies Women drew first blood in their four-match Twenty20 International series against Pakistan, winning a low-scoring, rain-ravaged encounter by a run here yesterday.
Sent in to bat, the hosts rattled up 90 for eight off 18 overs after rain interrupted their innings at Progress Park.
World-rated opener Stafanie Taylor hit the top score of 26 while Stacy-Ann King scored 16, with Sadia Yousuf and Qanita Jalil both claiming two for 14.
Chasing a revised target after another weather interruption, Pakistan came up short after requiring seven from the last over.
Nain Abidi got an unbeaten 21 but was unable to see the visitors home as medium pacer Shemaine Campbelle held her nerve to send down a fantastic last over.
Earlier, Taylor and Juliana Nero (5) posted 20 for the first wicket before Nero was stumped off left-arm spinner Sadia Yousuf.
Shanel Daley ran herself out for five attempting an impossible run with the score on 28 and after rain forced a stoppage, captain Merissa Aguilleira perished for three, pulling off-spinner Nida Dar to Bismah Maroof at midwicket.
Wickets tumbled steadily, however, as the Windies found themselves unable to build any serious partnerships. In their turn at the crease, Pakistan lost Nida Dar (2) with the score on three via the run out route and fellow opener Javeria Khan (7) followed her at 20 for two when she was well caught by Taylor at mid-wicket off medium-pacer Pearl Etienne.
Nain Abidi then took matters into her own hands, ensuring the match remained a contest down to the last over.
Scoreboard
WEST INDIES (Maximum: 18 overs)
S Taylor c Asmavia Iqbal b Sana Mir 24
J Nero st Rabiya Shah b Sadia Yousuf 5
S Daley run out 5
*+M Aguilleira c Bismah Maroof b Nida Dar 3
D Dottin c Bismah Maroof b Nida Dar 13
S King c wkp Rabiya Shah b Qanita Jalil 16
S Campbelle c Bismah Maroof b Qanita Jalil 1
K Knight run out 2
A Mohammed not out 9
P Etienne not out 7
Extras (lb2, w3) 5
TOTAL (8 wkts, 18 overs) 90
Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-28, 3-36, 4-51, 5-54, 6-61, 7-70, 8-72.
Bowling: Qanita Jalil 3-0-14-2, Masooma Junaid 3-0-16-0, Sadia Yousuf 4-0-14-2, Sana Mir 4-0-15-1, Nida Dar 3-0-25-1, Bismah Maroof 1-0-4-1.
PAKISTAN (Target: 58 from 11 overs)
Javeria Khan c Taylor b Etienne 7
Nida Dar run out 2
Marina Iqbal c Nero b Mohammed 11
Nain Abidi not out 21
Bismah Maroof not out 10
Extras (lb1, w3, nb1) 5
TOTAL (3 wkts, 11 overs) 56
Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-20, 3-34.
Bowling: Daley 3-0-9-0, Taylor 2-0-16-0, Etienne 2-0-11-1, Mohammed 2-0-7-1, Campbelle 2-0-12-0.
Result: West Indies won by one run.
Series: West Indies lead four-match series 1-0.
Player-of-the-Match: Stafanie Taylor.
Toss: Pakistan.
Umpires: P Nero, C Mack.