Series: West Indies in Pakistan Nov 2021
Venue: National Stadium, Karachi
Format: ODI
Toss: Pakistan
Result: West Indies by 37 runs
Windies Defend 153 to Clinch Series
A good allround effort by Hayley Matthews in game one was not quite good enough to win Player of the Match. In game two she went one better and in the process collected her best ever bowling figures in ODIs.
Javeria Khan won the toss for Pakistan and sent West In to bat. No surprises there, it is the Pakistan captain’s default choice. It looked like a wise decision and she was backed up by her bowlers, the ever impressive Anam Amin (2-21) and young tyro, Fatima Sana (2-19).
It was slow going for the batters but Deandra Dottin appeared to be setting up camp as she had done in the first match, slow and steady, ready for a launch later on. Not to however as she was brilliantly runout by Javeria Khan fielding at point. The West Indies struggled for runs while wickets fell steadily to the battery of Pakistan’s spin bowlers, all out for 153 inside their 50 overs.
Hayley Matthews (Photo: PCB) 
Fatima Sana (Photo: PCB) 
Shamilia Connell (Photo: PCB)
Shamilia Connell (3-18) and Shakera Selman (1-22) put such a strangle on the Pakistan batters that after overs of the run chase it was evident that this was a lot tougher assignment for the home team than expected. The inability of the openers to turn the strike was telling with just 24 runs from the first 10 overs.
A brilliant outfield catch by Shemaine Campbelle to dismiss Muneeba Ali (17) broke the deadlock and this was followed by Hayley Matthews first wicket, dismissing Sidra Ameen (11). Sidra’s innings was decidedly funereal, her 11 runs coming from 41 deliveries.
The slow batting continued. Sure the conditions were not perfect for batting but nonetheless, you make your own luck. Pakistan only needed just over 3 runs per over. It could have been done in singles, yet this team does not seem willing to score them.
Hayley Matthews’ 4-26 was a just reward as was the Player of the Match award. Special mention to opening bowler Shamilia Connell whose 3-18 was her best return yet in ODIs. The Windies now lead the series 2-0 and nothing suggests that it won’t be 3-0 in a few days time after game three.
Scores:
West Indies 153/9 (Deandra Dottin 34, Hayley Matthews 26, Fatima Sana 2-19, Anam Amin 2-21) 45.4 overs
Pakistan 116 (Omaima Sohail 27, Hayley Matthews 4-26, Shamilia Connell 3-18) 39.2 overs
Player of the Match: Hayley Matthews
Photos: PCB