Karishma shines as WI Women edge Pakistan in low-scoring thriller

KARACHI: West Indies-Women defeated Pakistan by one run in a last-ball thriller as an exceptional four-wicket spell from Karishma Ramharack snatched a sensational win in a low-scoring first T20I of the five-match series here at the National Bank Stadium on Friday night.

After restricting the Windies to 122, with all the bowlers doing a commendable job, Pakistan choked under pressure after Najiha Alvi failed to score two off the last ball as 12 were required in the final over as the lack of singles and doubles from the top-order batters spoiled the run-chase.

Though the openers gave Pakistan a 37-run start in 5.3 overs, they didn't capitalize on the power-play, scoring below the required rate. As a result, three quick dismissals of Sidra Ameen (23), Gull Feroza (13) and Ayesha Zafar (7) in the space of 17 runs further worsened things for green shirts.

Muneeba Ali (18) and skipper Nida Dar (27) tried to steer the inning before Muneeba got dismissed with 76 runs on the board. The skipper, Nida, tried to fight for her team, but it was then Karishma's moment with the ball, as the off-break bowler removed the good-looking Nida, Aliya Riaz (12) and Fatima Sana for zero.

Najiha (7) and Tuba (6) did their best but failed to finish the game on the last ball.

For West Indies, the player of the match Karishma took four for 15, while Joseph, Matthews and Fletcher took a wicket apiece in their four-over spells.

Earlier, after electing to bat first, the West Indies failed to post an imposing total – managing only 122-9 in 20 overs as all the Pakistani bowlers did a good job.

The host bowlers kept picking up wickets at regular intervals, stemming the flow of the West Indies inning, which didn’t allow them to put in a huge score. The visiting skipper Hayley Matthews, coming on the back of two superb centuries in the ODI series, was shown the door by Sadia Iqbal on the second ball.

In the fourth over, Nida Dar removed Shemaine Campbelle for two with the score of West Indies at 14.

Though Qiana Joseph (34) and Stafanie Taylor (30) tried to consolidate the inning with a 55-run third-wicket partnership, some accurate and tight bowling from the home side didn’t allow both batters to score runs at a quick rate. As a result, both the set batters got out in the 13th and 14th overs by Tuba Hasan and Nida Dar, respectively.

With a score of 94, Chedean Nation was dismissed by Fatima Sana, while Alleyne got run out two runs later. The 13-run cameos from Henry and Afy Fletcher took the score of West Indies to 122. For Pakistan, Fatima Sana took three for 24, Sadia Iqbal two for 23, while Diana Baig, Nida and Tuba picked up a wicket each in their four overs spell.