In the second T20I clash at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium, West Indies women’s skipper, Hayley Matthews, emerged as the linchpin, showcasing her multifaceted prowess.
Her performance was a masterclass in leading from the front, as she not only excelled with the ball, claiming impressive figures of 3-25, but also demonstrated her batting prowess by crafting a splendid 11th T20I half-century.
Matthews’ innings of 58 runs off 43 balls was a display of sheer dominance, featuring an array of ten boundaries.
Her partnerships with opener Shemaine Campbelle, who contributed a valuable 21 runs, and later with Chedean Nation and Chinelle Henry, ensured that the West Indies maintained control throughout their chase of the 122-run target set by Pakistan.
With solid contributions from her teammates, Matthews guided her side to a convincing seven-wicket victory with ten balls to spare.
On the other hand, Pakistan, after opting to bat first, faced early setbacks, losing opener Sidra Ameen cheaply.
Despite Muneeba Ali’s commendable effort in top-scoring with 55 runs, the Pakistani innings lacked substantial partnerships and struggled to accelerate the scoring rate.
Captain Nida Dar, with her brief cameo of 13 runs, tried to provide stability but was unable to counter the relentless pressure exerted by the West Indian bowlers.
The lower-order batsmen failed to make significant contributions, leaving Pakistan with a below-par total of 121-7 at the end of their allotted 20 overs.
Matthews’ all-round brilliance was further highlighted by her exceptional bowling display, ably supported by Chinelle Henry, Karishma Ramharack, and Afy Fletcher, who each chipped in with crucial wickets.
Overall, it was a commanding performance by the West Indies women’s team, orchestrated by the exemplary leadership and individual brilliance of Hayley Matthews.
