KARACHI, Pakistan, CMC – Wicketkeeper Shemaine Campbelle ran out Tuba Hassan off the final ball of the innings as West Indies Women pulled off a dramatic one-run victory over Pakistan Women in the opening Twenty20 International here yesterday.
With the hosts needing two off the final delivery in pursuit of 123 at National Bank Stadium, Najiha Alvi played and missed at a widish delivery from fast bowler Shamilia Connell and Campbelle quickly threw down the stumps at the striker’s end, after the batters attempted to steal a single in order to level the scores.
It capped off a thrilling last over that saw Tuba nearly hole out to mid-wicket off the first ball before scrambling a couple, and then sky to mid off where captain Hayley Matthews could only get her fingertips to the catch. Najiha turned the game in her side’s favour, however, when she threaded the penultimate delivery through extra cover for four but Connell then held her nerves for the decisive delivery.
Pakistan looked to be cruising when they reached 104 for four courtesy of captain Nida Dar’s breezy 27 off 24 deliveries, before off-spinner Karishma Ramharack turned the game on its head by grabbing three wickets in the 18th over in a Player-of-the-Match effort.
The 29-year-old, who finished with a career-best four for 15 from her four overs, knocked over Aliya Riaz (12) and Fatima Sana (0) in successive deliveries before having Dar caught at cover point by substitute Jannillea Glasgow on the second attempt, off the final ball of the over.
Pakistan had earlier flourished after Sidra Ameen (23) Gull Feroza (13) put on 37 off 33 deliveries for the first wicket, before Dar added 22 for the fourth wicket with Muneeba Ali (17) and a further 28 for the fifth with Riaz (18).
Choosing to bat first, West Indies Women lost their talismanic skipper Hayley Matthews without scoring to the second ball of the innings without a run on the board, caught at the wicket off left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal (2-23).
And when vice-captain Campbelle perished in the fourth over for two lbw to seamer Diana Baig, the visitors were stumbling on 14 for two.
Qiana Joseph, in her first match of the tour, came to her side’s rescue with a top score of 34 off 36 balls with four fours, posting a crucial 55 for the third wicket with former captain Stafanie Taylor, whose 30 came from 32 balls and also included four fours.
They fell in successive overs, Taylor skying to deep mid-wicket in the 13th over and left-hander Joseph lofting low to mid on in the 14th, and thereafter seamer Fatima Sana kept the scoring in check with a spell of three for 24.
