GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC) –West Indies Women succumbed to Pakistan Women by six wickets despite a patient half century from Merissa Aguilleira in their first One Day International (ODI) at Gross Islet on Friday night.
Aguilleira, the former captain, compiled the top score of 67 to bring West Indies back into the match after they slumped to 96 for five, after being sent in to bat by Pakistan.
Javeria Khan hit 90 to guide the visitors as they successfully chased the 223 set by West Indies with eleven balls to spare to take a one nil lead in the four match series.
Openers Kycia Knight (16) and Hayley Matthews (14) got West Indies off to a decent start with a 28 run opening stand but both players lost their wickets in quick succession.
New captain Stafanie Taylor scored 27 and Deandra Dottin 19 to stabilize the innings in a 37 run third-wicket stand before the hosts against lost quick wickets to be reduced to 96 for five.
However, wicketkeeper Aguilleira struck five fours in an unbeaten knock to revive the innings and with Britney Cooper, who scored 37, got Windies past 150.
The homeside was able to plunder 66 off the last 75 balls to end on 222 for nine.
Pakistan got off to a solid start with Javeria and Marina Iqbal putting on 54 for the first wicket in 83 balls.
Javeria put on partnerships of 49 and 79 for the second and third wickets with Bismah Maroof (21) and Nain Abidi (31) as Pakistan inched closer to the target.
Dottin was the pick of the West Indian bowlers with two wickets for 44 runs while Stacy- Ann King, who scored 20, leaked 22 runs but ended with the prize scalp of Javeria who was caught by Mohammed.
