In a low-scoring Women’s T20 World Cup game against Pakistan on Sunday at Boland Park in Paarl, West Indies captain Hayley Matthews motivated her team to a three-run victory.
In their 20 overs, slow bowlers from Pakistan, led by seasoned all-rounder Nida Dar, held the West Indies to 116 for six. Despite scoring three boundaries in the final over to reach 113 for five, Pakistan was always running behind the required run rate. As a result, England qualified for the semi-finals with three victories in three games. If England is defeated in Pakistan’s final match and India, who is now second in Group 2 after Ireland but has yet to win a game, loses against Ireland, Pakistan still has a mathematical chance to go to the final four.
In order to help her team end the group stage with two victories from four games, Matthews’ off-spinners took two for 14 in four overs. She was also led by a good example in the field. Nida had a bitter-sweet day as she equaled the record of 125 wickets held by former West Indies star Anisa Mohammed in women’s T20 Internationals by taking two for 13 in four precise overs of off-spin. Nida scored 27 in Pakistan’s response, but she was unable to lead her squad to victory. Only nine boundaries were scored in the West Indies innings and eight when Pakistan batted due to the slow pitch making it tough for the players to score runs rapidly.
At Saint George’s Park in Gqeberha on Saturday, Australia’s Tahlia McGrath and Ashleigh Gardner led the way with aggressive batting as they defeated South Africa by six wickets and advanced to the semi-finals. When Australia was 40 for three and needed 125 to win, they were in trouble.
Women’s cricket team won their first World Cup series in 13 years, all thanks to Nida Dar
However, McGrath and Gardner went all-out in an 81-run fourth-wicket combination to give the reigning champions victory with 21 balls remaining. Before being caught attempting a big shot with four runs needed to win, McGrath, the team’s dominant partner, hit 57 off 33 balls. She needed 29 deliveries to get to fifty. Out of 29 balls, Gardner made 28 strikes.
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