PAK-W vs WI-W 2nd ODI Review: Stafanie Taylor shines in last-ball thriller to give visitors 2-0 lead in series

West Indies Women took on Pakistan Women in the second ODI at the National Stadium in Karachi on Sunday, April 21. The visitors registered a convincing 113-run victory in the first encounter played at the same venue on Thursday. Fast forward to this game, Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first.

The hosts suffered an early blow in the form of Muneeba Ali as she departed in the second over after scoring just two runs. Sidra Ameen was joined by Bismah Maroof and the duo steadied the wobbling taxi with elegant strokes all over the ground. 

Both players stitched a crucial 80-run stand for the second wicket before Ameen was dismissed by Afy Fletcher on a well-crafted 50. Ramharack struck next by picking the wicket of Sadaf Shamas who managed to add just nine runs to the scoreboard. Maroof, who was trying to steady the shrinking ship, wasn't getting any kind of support from the other end. Skipper Nida Dar and all-rounder Aliya Riaz both departed after scoring 15 and six runs respectively. Ramharack scalped her second wicket in the form of Fatima Sana. 

Maroof ended her well-built innings on 65, which included three boundaries, all thanks to Ramharack who got the wicket of the dangerous left-hand batter. She ended with figures of 3/48. Chinelle Henry was the pick of the bowlers for the visitors ending with figures of 3/37. The Nida Dar-led side were bundled out for 223 runs with seven balls yet to be faced.

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Coming to the chase, the hosts also started well as they got rid of wicketkeeper-batter Rashada Williams' wicket early in the innings. Skipper Hayley Matthews was still confident to provide her side with a solid start even after losing one of their openers. Joining Matthews next was Shemaine Campbelle who was looking to play the anchor role in this chase. West Indies Women's skipper scored a 63-ball 44 before handing her wicket to Umm-e-Hani.

Pakistan could not recover after early collapse

From there, Stafanie Taylor and Campbell put up a partnership of 88 runs to bring the visitors closer to the target. Shemaine fell after scoring a 73-ball 52 which included four boundaries. It was once again Umm-e-Hani who got the breakthrough of the dangerous batter. Chedean Nation, who walked in next to help Taylor in this run chase, fell early and scored just six runs and was Dar's second wicket of the evening. 

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Sadia Iqbal got the big wicket of Taylor to get the hosts back in the game. Stafanie scored 73 runs off 90 balls, which included nine boundaries. Dar bowled a magnificent spell as she got the wickets of Aaliyah Alleyne and Chinelle Henry in the 49th over of the match. The target that looked achievable at once was looking a bit tricky as it came down till the last over. The visitors required five runs off the last six deliveries, but Pakistan were not giving up easily taking it to the very last ball. Requiring three runs of the last ball, new batter Ramharack smashed a boundary off the last delivery of the innings, to guide her side to a thrilling victory. West Indies finished on 225/8 to win the second ODI.