Pakistan ended a 13-year wait for a Women’s World Cup victory when they stunned the West Indies in a rain-affected game at the 2022 edition of the flagship event at Seddon Park in Hamilton. After restricting 89/7 in the 20-overs-a-side game,
Pakistan rode on patient 37 (43 balls) of Muneeba Ali to spare the 7 ball total. Captain Bismah Maroof and Omaima Sohail sewed a 33 run stand for the 3rd wicket to lead Pakistan across the finish line.
Nida Dar was the star of the game for Pakistan on Monday as she took 4 wickets and conceded just 10 runs in her 4-over spell as West Indies struggled to get going in Hamilton.
Anam Amin was spectacular when she gave away just 6 runs in her 4-over spell which also included a girl.
Diandra Dottin had the West Indies best score of 27 but there was little else to contribute from the rest of her batting side.
Pakistan had not won a World Cup match since defeating the West Indies in Sydney on March 14 in the 2009 edition of the tournament. Since then, Pakistan has lost 18 games in the 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2022 editions.
At the start of the tournament, Pakistan almost overwhelmed South Africa, but fell just 7 short of their target of 224 runs. They had restricted Bangladesh to 234/7 in their previous game of the 2022 Women’s World Cup, but a mid-order collapse despite Sidra Ameen’s hundred saw them lose by 9 runs.
On Monday, however, Pakistan didn’t repeat the same mistakes as they took full advantage of the tightened playing conditions and without panic went in pursuit of the West Indies’ tenuous goal.
TOP 4 RACE SEASONING
Pakistan’s first win at the 2022 Women’s World Cup has added spice to the race for semi-final spots. While Bismah Maroof’s girls are unlikely to make the top 4 with just one win in 5 games, the West Indies are in trouble after losing their 3rd game in 6 games.
Pakistan opens its account in #CWC22 placements pic.twitter.com/Buvjc7v7cW
— ICC (@ICC) March 21, 2022
Players like India and England, in 4th and 5th place respectively, will be dreaming while New Zealand, reeling with just 2 wins in 6 games, have an opportunity to reach the semi-finals.
