West Indies earned their first points in the Women’s World Cup qualifier after overcoming a serious scare against Ireland. Ireland was 57 for no loss in the eleventh over, then lost 4 for 23 and required 98 runs from 96 balls with six wickets remaining as they chased 182 in a contest that was cut to 33 overs each side. As wickets dropped, the required rate fluctuated, and Ireland needed 26 from 23 at nine down. Hayley Matthews once again had the ultimate say and took the final wicket to finish with figures of 4 for 24, which turned into 15 off 12 and 8 off the final over.
In the short term, Ireland will be disappointed with their batting performance, but after the game is over, they will realise that they lost in the field because they missed six catches and let the West Indies set a difficult goal.
After losing to Scotland two days ago and receiving criticism for the lack of participation from other senior players, the West Indies recovered from a bad start to the competition by having players other than Matthews contribute, at least in the batting area. This time, the innings was supported by two 46s from Chinelle Henry and Stafanie Taylor.
Matthews did get things going quickly. She was on 23 when Orla Prendagast removed her in the fifth over after she took a falling catch off her own bowling, having struck five boundaries in the 18 balls she faced. When Qiana Joseph attempted to bat her way out of difficulty in the following over, she skied Jane Maguire straight up, allowing Arlene Kelly to make a clean catch. In her little time at the crease, Joseph had already been dropped once.
Zaida Ava Canning was unable to hold on, as James scored a cool 36 off 54 balls and participated in an 87-run partnership with Taylor, who was dismissed on 22. James could have gone cheaply for two. Maguire eliminated both of them in the same over just as they appeared to be settled. James was bowled after being undone by a slower delivery, while Taylor sliced at a wide ball and was caught at extra cover.
Ireland could have swept through the middle order of the West Indies from there, but they had to settle for wickets at the opposite end after giving Henry opportunities on 1, 11, and 38. Both she and the West Indies appeared to have left some runs in the middle, and Henry hit the only six of the innings and finished undefeated at 46 off 36 balls.
The manner in which Ireland began validated that sentiment. Prior to Matthews’ decisive double-strike, Gaby Lewis and Amy Hunter put up 57 for the first wicket in 11 overs. She gave Prendagast a taste of her own medicine by taking a catch in her follow-through after bowling Lewis with the fourth ball of her third over. After Afy Fletcher bowled Hunter for 48 after 19 balls, Ireland appeared to be done when Leah Paul gave Matthews a chance at slip.
The game was slipping away from the West Indies when a 42-run fifth-wicket partnership between Laura Delany and Christina Coulter Reilly steadied them. Ramharack stopped it. When Delany chopped without much restraint, she was there. Ramharack hung on as the ball came to her chest height. Ireland fell to 146 for 7, but they were still in the hunt as that wicket caused yet another collapse.
When Ireland required 32 runs off 30 balls, Matthews rallied at the last minute and trapped Ava Canning leg before wicket, although the Irish No. 9 appeared to believe the ball was missing leg. Ireland was on the verge of defeating the West Indies for the first time since 2003 after a run-out off the next ball, but Matthews had the last word when Arlene Kelly slashed her to Henry at long-on.
Pakistan gained a second victory in the day’s other match, which was again cut short (but only to 32 overs each side), moving them one step closer to the World Cup and to the top of the points table. In a batting showing that began cautiously and grew more confident as it progressed, they defeated Scotland by six wickets, with eight balls remaining.
Gull Feroza and Sidra Amin were both out stumped in the eighth over of Pakistan’s 187-run chase, leaving them at 36 for 2, but half-centuries from Aliya Riaz, who put up 93 for the third wicket, and Muneeba Ali helped them win. Muneeba’s innings was vital to Pakistan’s cause, although she only reached 50 for the fourth time in her 45-match career.
She scored at nearly a run per ball (finishing with 71 off 72), was especially good at the pull shot, and got along well with Aliya. Scotland’s hopes were virtually dashed when Muneeba was caught at mid-wicket by Chloe Abel while attempting to clear the inner ring. Despite Fatima Sana’s cheap dismissal, Sidra Nawaz and Aliya (68* off 70) easily won for Pakistan.
Since only Aisla Lister and Kathryn Bryce really put pressure on them, Pakistan will also be happy with their bowling performance. Before the Bryce sisters completed a third-wicket stand of 51 runs, Sadia Iqbal and Diana Baig had Scotland in trouble at 17 for 2. Only after Sarah was disqualified for 21 did the captain decide to bring herself on, after Kathryn and Lister put up 55 and were separated by Sadia Iqbal.
With her yorkers, which included one that bowled Megan McColl, Sana troubled Scotland’s middle and lower order starting in the 24th over. Before her opposite number rejected her nine short of a century, Kathryn stood by herself and delighted with her superb footwork and self-assured sweeping. In five overs, Sana took four wickets for twenty-three.
Pakistan will feel prepared for their crucial match against the West Indies on Monday after winning games against Scotland and Ireland, when they defended what appeared to be a below-par score of 217 and chased what appeared to be a difficult goal of 187 in 32 overs.
India
