All-round Pakistan triumph to level series against the Windies

In the second ODI of West Indies tour of Pakistan, the hosts won the toss and elected to bat first. The decision paid off as Pakistan registered a 34-run win over their opponents.

Opener Nahida Khan returned after retiring hurt in the previous match, but was dismissed cheaply, on the back of a loose shot. Javeria Khan soon followed, bowled off a brilliantly delivery by Shamilia Connell. Returning skipper Bismah Maroof then smashed Deandra Dottin for a boundary, before being dismissed off the next ball to leave Pakistan stumbling at 52-3.

Her wicket brought Nida Dar to the crease, who, along with Sidra Ameen started re-building the innings. The two rotated strike well, with Dar offering good support to Ameen, who was in good touch. The two consolidated to put on an imposing 102-run stand, before a piece of fielding brilliance from skipper Stafanie Taylor saw Ameen walking back to the pavilion. Just four short of her maiden century, Ameen took a risky single, that was cut short by a direct hit from Taylor. At the end of the 40th over, Pakistan were on 185-5, with Dar having brought up her half-century. Another miscommunication then broke a 44-run partnership between Sana Mir (21 off 30) and Dar. Pakistan finished their innings all out on 240, Ameen top-scoring and Dar adding a valuable 81 off 86.

Selman and Dottin took two wickets each, while Connell and Afy Fletcher chipped in with a scalp each.

In the second innings, Pakistan made early breakthroughs to gain the upper hand. By the end of the 11th over, Kycia Knight, Dottin and Shemaine Campbelle were back in the dugout, Diana Baig doing all the damage. The Windies had been reduced to 27-3. Taylor (48) and Chedean Nation (23) then added 65 runs for the fourth wicket, before Nashra Sandhu struck to send the latter back. In the following over, Sana Mir dismissed Taylor, reducing the Windies to 94-5 and swinging the momentum back in on her sides favour.

From there, the Windies crumbled, losing 6-52. Natasha McLean together with Shamilia Connell provided some resistance, frustrating the Pakistani bowlers in their attempt to bat through the innings. They came close, building a 62-run partnership, but McLean was fittingly caught and bowled by Dar off the penultimate delivery. Her valiant knock of 82 off 76, consisting of eight fours and two massive maximums, came to an end as the Windies fell 34 runs short of the total.

Baig starred with the ball, taking four wickets for 34 runs, while Mir finished with figures of 3-21, bowling three maidens as well. Ameen was named Player of the Match for her knock.

The series is now drawn with both sides registering a win each. The final match was the series will now be the decider, with a further two points for the ICC Women's Championship up for grabs.