The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
That India-Ireland game is for tomorrow, of course, but today's a double-header and there is another contest lined up for you. New Zealand and Sri Lanka will battle it out at this very venue in just over half an hour from now - do hop over here to catch our coverage of the same right here on Sportskeeda. For the moment though, this is the duo of Karthik Raj and Sooryanarayanan Sesha taking your leave. Thank you so much for tuning into our coverage of this thriller and we hope you enjoyed the same. See you around soon - good night and here's to a great week ahead!
It's important to mention that by virtue of this result, England are officially through to the semifinals of the Women's T20 World Cup 2023. This means that we have two teams in (one from each group) and with the tournament reaching its business end, we will have our answers as to who takes the other two spots very soon. Both Pakistan and West Indies are alive, but their fate is out of their hands now. Both teams will hope Ireland can pull off a miracle against India tomorrow, else the Women in Blue will join England in the semifinals from Group 2. West Indies are done with their games - they've finally managed to pick up a couple of wins, although their net run-rate is in the negatives. They simply need Ireland to trounce India tomorrow else they will head back home. As for Pakistan, they too need an Ireland win, before they look to pull off an upset over England.
Hayley Matthews (West Indies captain): We've had a tough couple of months and we were just able to bring the momentum over from the last game. All we could have done today was come out and do what we had to do. A lot of young players coming in. It's just so exciting. I think it's going to be a really exciting period watching them grow. I have to mention the support staff - they're supporting them really well.
Bismah Maroof (Pakistan captain): It is hurtful for everyone. It was a very close match. Our batting wasn't up to the mark. We know the wickets are very slow. Our spin department is very good and we knew they can bowl extra overs for us. (On the next match against England) Important match for us. We have played good cricket and we'll try to continue that.
Hayley Matthews is the Player of the Match. Here's what she has to say: My heart is still beating a bit fast. Obviously, as West Indians, we tend to drag games but happy in the end. Not only batting and bowling, but we did well in the field. Just hitting the stumps, the pitch had variation. It was up and down and there was also some turn. 100 per cent, over the last couple of weeks, started to take some responsibility. Couldn't go deep today but it was a complete all-round effort from the team!
Match Summary: West Indies beat Pakistan by 3 runs.
Rashada Williams 30 (34) | Hayley Matthews 2/14 (4) Aliya Riaz 29 (23) | Nida Dar 2/13 (4)
A result that seemed far beyond the realms of realistic possibility at the halfway mark. But the West Indies have defied odds in some style to snatch a thriller at Boland Park. Pakistan will feel disappointed with the way they went about that chase but full credit to the way the West Indies fought for every run as though their life was on the line.
It all began with a few tidy overs from their fast-bowlers who managed to generate some movement. Skipper Hayley Matthews then took matters into her own hands as she prized out the centurion from the last game, Muneeba Ali, before holding onto a stunner as Karishma Ramharack induced a false stroke out of Sidra Ameen. For a team that had the lowest dot ball percentage heading into this game, Pakistan were tied up in knots and were not allowed to break free.
Skipper Bismah Maroof and Nida Dar were the two experienced hands they needed out there at that point, but neither was really able to dictate terms. Maroof found the fence with a couple of reverse-sweeps, even as Dar looked to power her way along herself. When she was dropped by Matthews, it seemed as though the game would pivot at that juncture, only for Afy Fletcher to render that possibility moot. Aliya Riaz looked positive from the outset, but with the spinners continuing to work their magic and keep it tight, the asking rate escalated with every subsequent over.
An inspired review saw Matthews successfully see the back of Maroof and once the spinners were done, it was onto Chinelle Henry and Shamilia Connell to finish it off. A dicey wide call was given in favor of the bowling side and with 18 required off the final over, the odds were stacked up against Pakistan. Connell lost the plot with a couple of half-trackers though and nearly squandered the initiative. Luck shone on the West Indians, however, as Riaz chopped one onto her stumps before Omaima Sohail failed to pick out the fence with five runs needed off the last ball. And that's how, out of nowhere, the West Indies snatched a thriller to keep their slender hopes of qualifying for the semifinals relevant. Stay tuned for the presentation ceremony.
Shamilia Connell holds her nerve! Oh she can breathe now! Out of nowhere, out of the dead, out of the clutches of defeat, the West Indies have snatched victory by 3 runs! What. A. Match!
20
overs
113/5score
4
1
4
4
W
1lb
runs
Omaima Sohail*
0(1)
Sana Fatima
9(6)
Shamilia Connell
1/31
19.6 Shamilia Connell to Omaima Sohail, HEART-BREAK FOR PAKISTAN!! Full and down the leg-side, Omaima looks to flick but she misses and the ball deflects off the pad. The keeper collects the ball and throws it to the bowler while the Pakistani batters get across for one leg-bye. So, it is the West Indies who win this thriller by three runs!
Don't say it. Don't say it. DO NOT SAY IT...
....Super Over, anyone?
Omaima Sohail, RHB, comes to the crease
What an anticlimax! It wasn't quite the best delivery with the boundary riders all on the leg-side but fortune favors the West Indies. 5 runs required off the final delivery - dare we say those two magical words?
19.5 Shamilia Connell to Aliya Riaz, DRAGGED ON!! THIS GAME CONTINUES TO TWIST AND TURN!! Length delivery outside-off, Aliya looks to cut but she can only get an inside-edge onto the stumps. Only Pakistan can create such thrillers! The new batter, Omaima Sohail will be on strike now! Aliya Riaz b Shamilia Connell 29 (23b, 4x4, 0x6)
Long leg, deep mid-wicket and a long on in place.
Aliya Riaz has turned up and how! This is extremely poor though from Connell - half-trackers are a real gift for this field and the pressure is telling on the seamer. 5 runs needed off 2...
19.4 Shamilia Connell to Aliya Riaz, FOUR MORE!! ALIYA IS PUTTING ON A SHOW HERE!! Short-ish leg-cutter, Aliya rocks back and pulls it in front of square for a boundary. Pakistan need five runs off two balls now! Nail-biting stuff!
Long off, long on and deep mid-wicket in place.
Too much width on offer and with the extra fielder up thanks to the over-rate penalty, the West Indies could just pay the price. Pressure everywhere! 9 required off 3...
19.3 Shamilia Connell to Aliya Riaz, CRUNCHED BY ALIYA!! Short and wide of off, Aliya stands tall and cuts it over backward point for a boundary. Poor delivery from Connell and Pakistan are right in this game. They need nine runs off the last three balls!