Series Alive

Captain Rashada Williams produced a Player-of-the-Match half-century as West Indies Women ‘A’ edged Pakistan Women ‘A’ by three wickets with a ball to spare, to level their three-match 50-over series on Thursday.

Asked to chase 189 at the Lahore Country Club, the visitors overhauled their target thanks to Williams, the right-hander top-scoring with 71 off 94 deliveries.

Opener Shabika Gajnabi chipped in with 25 from 38 balls while Zaida James got 23 from 58 deliveries down the order.

The victory was an important one for West Indies Women following their eight-run defeat in the opener last Tuesday.

The series will wrap up in Lahore on Sunday.

Pakistan Women had earlier rallied to 188 for nine from their 50 overs after being sent in, with Sidra Nawaz hitting exactly 50 off 85 balls with four boundaries at number six, and openers Shawaal Zulfiqar (32) and Eyman Fatima (25) weighing in.

Off-spinner Ashmini Munisar led the visitors’ attack with three for 21 while left-armer Quiana Joseph claimed two for 30.

Shawaal struck four fours off 61 balls while Eyman also counted four fours in a 47-ball knock, the pair putting on 62 for the first wicket.

However, Munisar and Joseph then teamed up to wreck the top order and send five wickets tumbling for 31 balls before Sidra propped up the innings, posting 43 for the sixth wicket with Noreen Yaqoob (19) and a further 32 for the seventh wicket with Rameen Shamim (10).

In reply, West Indies Women ‘A’ lost Shunelle Sawh cheaply for five in the seventh over but recovered through Williams who anchored two critical stands.

The 26-year-old, who has already played 51 internationals for the senior West Indies Women’s side, struck eight fours while adding 44 for the second wicket with Gajnabi and a further 50 for the fifth wicket with James.

Williams perished in the 38th over with her side still 43 runs adrift of their target but number eight Sheneta Grimmond struck a run-a-ball 17 to deny the hosts.

Teenaged left-arm spinner Anosha Nasir was the best bowler with three for 36. (CMC)