PAK-W vs WI-W, 4th T20I Review: Pakistan finally come up trumps against West Indies

The fourth T20I of the five-match T20I series was a matter of pride for Pakistan Women, who had already lost the series to West Indies Women, already taken an unassailable 0-3 lead. And boy, did they give it their all!

Hayley Matthews-led West Indies Women won the toss and opted to bat first. The first three balls couldn't have been more eventful, with Sadia Iqbal, starting with a wide. The two deliveries succeeding were a stumping of opening batter Qiana Joseph, granting the left-arm orthodox her fourth wicket of the series, and a dropped catch of wicketkeeper-batter, Shemaine Campbell, who was eventually the top-scorer for her team with 26 (20). Matthews, who's been in celestial form in the white-ball tour so far, being the leading run-getter across both sides in the recently-concluded three-match ODI series as well as the ongoing T20I series, departed cheaply for a single run off nine balls this time around. 

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Pakistan Women's disciplined bowling and controlled chase secure victory

The one who struggled the most out there in the middle, was No. 4 batter, Chedean Nation, who inchwormed her Pakistan Women's Disciplined Bowling and Controlled Chase Secure Victoryway to a painfully dilly-dallying knock of 8 off 24. West Indies Women lost wickets at regular intervals, and never really put their foot on the gas, or rather, weren't permitted to, courtesy of some really disciplined bowling by the home team. Skipper, Nida Dar, also came to the party, chipping in with three wickets, as all five of the bowlers deployed ended up bowling more than 10 dot balls in their respective spells, curbing West Indies Women to 84/9 in their quota.

Coming to the chase, although Pakistan Women lost Sidra Ameen in the fourth over itself, they went along their business quite comfortably, knocking around singles at ease. Ayesha Zafar, who had only scored 35 runs in the entire series, played an easy-going and composed 48-ball 42-run knock, with only 12 of her total coming via boundaries. Gull Feroza and Ayesha stitched a level-headed 46-run partnership off 54 deliveries to take their side home, who won their first T20I this year. 

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In terms of the bowling in the second innings, there was plenty of chopping and changing done, with Matthews opting to give her bowlers short spells, as well as tried out some part-timers as well. She, herself, could not contribute to the wicket-taking column, as the total put up by her side was just not adequate for the bowlers to have a chance. Right-arm pacer, Shamilia Connell, and leggie, Afy Fletcher, both of whom bowled a couple of overs each, were the sole wicket-takers for the away team.