‘It was difficult to defend 90 runs’

HAMILTON, New Zealand (CMC):

West Indies Women’s bowling coach, Corey Collymore, said it was difficult to defend the 89 for 7 the team scored in their losing effort to lowly Pakistan in the Women’s Cricket World Cup yesterday.

The regional women imperilled their chances of a semi-final spot when another faulty batting effort sent them crashing to an eight-wicket defeat by Pakistan in a rain-hit affair at Seddon Park. The win was at an ICC Women’s World Cup in 13 years.

Scores: West Indies Women 89 for seven (20 overs); Pakistan 90 for two (18.5 overs).

“I think … it was difficult to defend 90 runs. We really had to be on our ‘A’ game today in every single ball,” Collymore said.

“We didn’t do too well in the field as well. We’re still missing one of our premier bowlers … so things like that can’t help you in defending a total. But only setting 90 runs again, it was really difficult.”

He continued: “If you look at how we batted, if you’re honest with yourself, we didn’t play particularly good shots. Everyone keeps saying we’ve got quality batters, but quality batters are not putting up quality performances. [It] still does not mean a quality team.”

Sent in, West Indies never really found their footing, and only opener Deandra Dottin, who slammed 27 off 35 deliveries with five fours, showed any real intent.

In fact, she was only one of two specialist batsmen to reach double figures, captain Stafanie Taylor being the other with a painful 18 off 31 balls, as veteran off-spinner Nida Dar ran through the innings with 4 for 10 to earn Player-of-the-Match honours.

Earlier, West Indies lost Hayley Matthews cheaply in the fifth over, slicing seamer Fatima Sana to backward point for one before Dottin followed with the score on 34 for 2in the 10th over, slapping a length delivery back to Nidar Dar.

Shemaine Campbelle (7) walked past one from Nida Dar and was stumped in the 12th over, and further trouble ensued when Chedean Nation was bowled through the gate without scoring by off-spinner Omaima Sohail.

Taylor, dropped before she had scored, endured an arduous labour, which eventually came to nothing when she was smartly caught and bowled by left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu going to her left.

West Indies Women remain third on six points despite the defeat but have only one match remaining against South Africa Women on Thursday.

Unbeaten Australia, already assured of a semi-final spot, top the standings with 10 points with South Africa, also unbeaten, second on eight points.

SCOREBOARD

WEST INDIES WOMEN (20 overs)

D. Dottin c & b Nida Dar 27

H. Matthews c Muneeba Ali b Fatima Sana 1

*S. Taylor c & b Nashra Sandhu 18

+S. Campbelle st Sidra Nawaz b Nida Dar 7

C. Nation b Omaima Sohail 0

K. Knight c Nashra Sandhu b Nida Dar 8

C. Henry c Aliya Riaz b Nida Dar 0

A. Fletcher not out 12

A. Alleyne not out 9

Extras (b2, lb4, w1) 7

TOTAL (7 wkts, 20 overs) 89

Did not bat: A Mohammed, S Selman

Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Matthews), 2-34 (Dottin), 3-46 (Campbelle), 4-51 (Nation), 5-63 (Knight), 6-63 (Henry), 7-63 (Taylor)

Bowling: Baig 2-0-17-0, Anam Amin 4-1-6-0, Fatima Sana 4-0-14-1, Nashra Sandhu 4-1-24-1, Nida Dar 4-0-10-4, Omaima Sohail 2-0-12-1 (w1).

PAKISTAN WOMEN (Target: 90 runs from 20 overs)

M. Ali c Dottin b Selman 37

S. Ameen b Fletcher 8

*B. Maroof not out 20

O. Sohail not out 22

Extras (w2, nb1) 3

TOTAL (2 wkts, 18.5 overs) 90

Did not bat: Nida Dar, Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, +Sidra Nawaz, Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu, Anam Amin

Fall of wickets: 1-22 (Sidra Ameen), 2-57 (Muneeba)

Bowling: Matthews 4-1-16-0, Henry 2-0-8-0, Mohammed 4-0-21-0, Fletcher 4-0-23-1 (w1), Selman 3.5-0-15-1 (w1, nb1), Dottin 1-0-7-0.

Result: Pakistan Women won by eight wickets.

Points: Pakistan Women 2, West Indies Women 0.

Player-of-the-Match: Nida Dar.