BIRMINGHAM, England, CMC – West Indies internationals Kycia Knight and Hayley Matthews struck half-centuries as Barbados Women stunned Pakistan Women by 15 runs in their opening Group A contest of the Commonwealth Games here yesterday.
Sent in at Edgbaston, Barbados coasted to 144 for four off their 20 overs with the left-handed Kycia Knight striking a brisk unbeaten 62 off 56 deliveries and captain Matthews, who also skippers West Indies, lashing 51 off 50 balls.
In reply, veteran Nida Dar struck a valiant unbeaten 50 off 31 deliveries but she lacked support and Pakistan Women came up short at 129 for six.
Featuring seven West Indies players in their ranks, Barbados were always going to be a handful and so they proved, rattling up a strong total to put Pakistan under pressure.
They lost Deandra Dottin cheaply for eight in the first over but Knight and Matthews consolidated well in an outstanding second wicket stand worth 107.
The 30-year-old Knight, with 64 T20 Internationals behind her name, lashed nine fours while Matthews, 24, appointed West Indies captain last month, counted four fours and a six.
Twenty-year-old fast bowler Fatima Sana finished with two for 41.
Pakistan’s run chase was imperilled from the outset when speedster Shamilia Connell removed Imran Javed to a catch at the wicket off the first ball of the innings.
The innings then spiralled, Matthews featuring in two run outs and grabbing a wicket with her off-spin as the Asian side declined further to 49 for four in the 11th over.
Nida arrived to provide Pakistan with a glimmer of hope, belting seven fours and a six while adding an invaluable 69 for the fifth wicket with Aliya Riaz who made 14 in a supporting role.
When Aliya fell to the final delivery of the penultimate over, Pakistan were left needing 27 from the last six deliveries of the game – a task which proved beyond their reach.
