DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – Stafanie Taylor struck her 33rd one-day half-century but West Indies produced another dodgy batting effort to crash to a four-wicket defeat to Pakistan and concede the three-match ICC Championship series 2-1 here yesterday.
Opting to bat first in the series decider at the ICC Academy, West Indies were dismissed for 159 in the 48th over, with skipper Taylor top-scoring with 52, opener Deandra Dottin getting 28 and Shemaine Campbelle, 26.
They were 87 for two at one stage but lost their last eight wickets for 72 runs as left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu (3-21) and new ball seamer Diana Baig (3-42) ran through the innings with three-wicket hauls.
In reply, Pakistan overhauled their target in the 48th over, with opener Sidra Ameen top-scoring with 52, Nida Dar hitting 26 and Javeria Khan chipping in with 24.
The defeat came on the heels of Saturday’s 34-run loss at the same venue, after West Indies had convincingly won the series opener by 146 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
West Indies were off to a dodgy start when Kycia Knight was bowled without scoring off the third ball of the innings from Baig with just one on the board.
And further disappointment followed when Dottin, who had sent warning signs with a couple of fours and sixes in a 20-ball cameo, was run out in the eighth over with the score on 35.
However, Taylor and Campbelle put on 52 for the third wicket which appeared to put West Indies back on course for a solid total. Taylor faced 95 deliveries and struck four fours in notching her second half-century in three innings while Campbelle hit a single boundary in a 43-ball knock.
Once Nashra had Campbelle stumped in the 20th over, however, the innings declined quickly, and only Afy Fletcher, with an unbeaten 21 at number eight, showed any resistance thereafter.
Taylor was seventh over in the 37th over, caught and bowled by Baig.
Ameen then gave Pakistan the strong start to their run chase they needed, posting 32 for the first wicket with Nahida Khan (15) and a further 44 for the second wicket with Javeria.
The right-handed Ameen, with scores of 96 and 52 already in the series, punched five fours off 107 deliveries, also posted 46 for the fourth wicket with Dar, after Javeria and captain Bismah Maroof (5) fell in quick succession to leave Pakistan on 82 for three in the 25th over.
Ameen eventually perished in the 39th over in a slide which saw three wickets tumble for 11 runs but Pakistan steadied themselves to turn back the Windies’ late bid.