The 2nd encounter of the opening day between Barbados and Pakistan saw Barbados have a defensive play, but just in time managed to get to a good total. Pakistan in reply found it difficult in the middle and toward the backend did get close to the total, but it remained Barbados who handed Pakistan an early upset having won the contest by 15 runs.
1st Inning: Barbados – 144/4 (20)
Barbados having won the toss opt to bat first. Deandra Dottin had a good and aggressive start, but couldn’t get past 8 as it was Diana Baig for Pakistan who struck early. Kycia Knight joined skipper Hayley Matthews in the middle and the duo went on to stitch a crucial partnership. The pair tried to accelerate a lot but just couldn’t get their timing right even on the few boundary balls that Pakistan offered. The partnership bloomed from 50 to 100 but wasn’t an attacking and an intentful one as Barbados edged past 100 in their 16th over. Hayley Matthews got to her fifty and soon departed on 51(50) and it was Fatima Sana who got Pakistan the breakthrough. A set Kycia Knight was joined by her twin sister Kyshona Knight and the latter departed for 9. Kycia finally got a few away, went past her fifty and managed a couple of big overs that saw Barbados post 144 in their 20 overs with her remaining unbeaten on 62(56). For Pakistan, spinners did a decent job and it was Fatima Sana despite remaining expensive by going for 41 in her 4 overs picked up a couple of wickets to top the list which had Diana Baig follow with her 1 in the couple of overs she bowled.
2nd Innings: Pakistan – 129/6 (20)
Pakistan chasing 145 didn’t have the start they would have wished for as Shamilia Connell struck off the first ball dismissing Iram Javed for a golden duck. Both Omaima Sohail and Muneeba Ali got going well with a couple of boundaries, but soon Omaima was ran out on 10(14) and dot ball pressure with skipper, Bismah struggling saw Muneeba Ali depart for 17(18) and it was Hayley Matthews after impacting with the run-out, spinning out Ali. There came a much-needed welcomed boundary Bismah’s way but couldn’t continue as another run-out got her struggles to an end on 12(28). Nida Dar got a couple of welcome boundaries and thankfully for Pakistan, she topped it with a much-needed 18-run-over off Connell, with Aliya Riaz struggling on the other end. A 50-run stand between the two was up off 35 balls as Pakistan edged past 100 in the 17th over. Aliya Riaz’s struggle on 14(24) saw curtains in the penultimate over and the final over had Nida Dar get to her 50 off 31 balls and Pakistan chasing 144 fall short by 15 runs. For Barbados, Hayley Matthews with 1-13 in 4 topped the wickets chart which saw Aaliyah, Connell and Deandra with one each follow.
Top Performer
Hayley Matthews and Kycia Knight too struggled to get runs but did run the singles and twos that Pakistan couldn’t get and in the end fell a few short. Pakistan’s defensive run by failing to accelerate sees them lose yet again and its work well done by Barbados who’ve come first time on the international stage and taken the opportunity with both hands. A mention to Hayley Matthews who captained in her first international game and got to a crucial 50 then was involved in a couple of run-outs and bagged a wicket as well.
🇧🇧Barbados clinch a special victory, beating Pakistan by 15 Runs.
Nida Dar remained unbeaten on 50* Runs (31 Balls)#CWG2022 #B2022 #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/ka30GahyYy
— Female Cricket #B2022 (@imfemalecricket) July 29, 2022