West Indies seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in karachchi
2024.04.29
West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews led her team to an outstanding seven-wicket victory against Pakistan in Karachi on Sunday, continuing her incredible recent run of form.
In the second Twenty20 International of the series at National Stadium, Matthews amassed numbers of 3/25 to assist in holding Pakistan to 121/7. She then went on to smash her 11th T20I half-century in another Player of the Match effort, which helped lead the Caribbean team to a 2-0 series lead.
As a result, Matthews has now won seven of her past eight Twenty20 international matches for the West Indies. This is a worrying indication for the opposition ahead of this year’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, as the captain is accumulating an incredible record in the shortest format.
Matthews has amassed 503 runs from eight innings at an amazing average of 71.86 since the end of the T20 World Cup in South Africa last year. She has also taken 17 wickets at an exceptional bowling pace of 10.47 with her more than useful off-spin.
In January of this year, Matthews was awarded the ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year 2023. Based on her performance thus far in 2024, it appears that she has a good chance of winning the prestigious title for a second year in a row.
In the second Twenty20 International on Sunday, the West Indies captain took a crucial wicket of her Pakistani counterpart in the penultimate over. She then scalped two more wickets in the final over of the hosts’ innings, limiting them to a below-par total even after winning the toss and choosing to bat first.
And Matthews was immediately on the attack, giving the West Indies a tremendous start to their pursuit. The right-hander reached her half-century mark in just the eleventh over, and her team appeared to be in complete control of the game.
Following a well-compiled innings of 58 that featured 10 boundaries, Matthews was dismissed by Sadia Iqbal in the 13th over, but Chedean Nation (17) and Chinelle Henry (8) remained cool to lead the West Indies home ahead of Tuesday’s third match of the series at the same location.
West Indies 124 for 3 (Matthews 58, Campbelle 21, Baig 1-22) beat Pakistan 121 for 7 (Muneeba 55, Matthews 3-26, Henry 1-15) by seven wickets
@charith
