Women’s T20 World Cup: West Indies squeeze previous Pakistan in thriller

West Indies stored their slender semifinal hopes alive with a nail-biting three-run win over Pakistan in a last-ball end within the Women’s T20 World Cup right here on Sunday.

West Indies (-0.601), who’ve performed all their group matches and are on 4 factors, can nonetheless qualify for the semifinals if India (+0.205), additionally on 4 factors, lose to Ireland by an enormous margin, denting their internet run fee and Pakistan, who’re on two factors additionally go right down to England.

Bidding to construct on their win over Ireland, the Windies opted to bat and posted a below-par 116-6 at Boland Park.

Skipper Hayley Matthews took key Pakistan wickets early and late within the innings to encourage her aspect to a dramatic victory.

Matthews and Rashada Williams flayed 15 from the bowling of Aiman Anwer within the fourth over however navigated the powerplay in cagey trend.

Matthews perished late within the powerplay when she tried to raise Fatima Sana over the midwicket boundary however solely discovered the fingers of Sidra Ameen.

It was an enormous wicket that sparked wild celebrations however Shemaine Campbelle joined Williams and the pair placed on 40 at a run-a-ball.

The second-wicket stand got here to a tame finish when Williams supplied a easy return catch to the excellent Sadia Iqbal to depart for 30.

Chinelle Henry muscled two boundaries however was trapped in entrance by Nida Dar for 11 and Campbelle went within the subsequent over, neatly stumped by Muneeba Ali.

Dar bowled Aaliyah Alleyne within the penultimate over, her a hundred and twenty fifth T20I wicket, making her the joint-leading wicket-taker within the historical past of the format.

Pakistan started cautiously in reply to 116-6 and it was Windies game-changer Matthews who obtained the breakthrough, dismissing the harmful Muneeba Ali for 5 within the fourth over.

Matthews was on the coronary heart of the motion once more two balls later when she took a pointy catch at midwicket to account for Sidra Ameen, with Pakistan at 15 for 2.

The skilled pairing of Bismah and Dar then launched into a measured partnership that hardly ever obtained out of first gear till the latter whipped Henry to the midwicket fence within the thirteenth over.

Dar seemed to go aerial once more within the subsequent over however was deceived within the flight by Afy Fletcher and caught at additional cowl by Karishma Ramharack, with 57 runs nonetheless required.

Pakistan have been by a long way one of the best finishers at this event and Aliya Riaz started to free her arms.

But she misplaced the stabilising affect of Bismah who was given out LBW on overview after mistiming a reverse sweep off the bowling of Matthews.

Aliya and Fatima wanted 18 from the ultimate over they usually took 13 from Shamilia Connell’s first 4 balls with some sensible hitting, earlier than Aliya chopped on to her personal stumps to dramatically finish Pakistan’s hopes.