BIRMINGHAM: Captain Hayley Matthews and Kycia Knight starred as Barbados Women thumped Pakistan Women by 15 runs in their opening match of the ongoing Commonwealth Games 2022.
Set to chase 145, Pakistan fell 15 runs short as the Green Shirts could only manage to score 129/6 in the allotted 20 overs despite a brilliant half-century by all-rounder Nida Dar.
The Green Shirts found themselves in trouble early on in the run chase as the side lost four wickets at a combined score of 49 in the 11th over with the captain Bismah Maroof being the latest casualty, who struggled for her 12 off 28 deliveries.
Dar was the exception in the dismal batting show displayed by Pakistan as she scored an unbeaten 50 at a quick pace; facing a mere 31 deliveries and smashed eight boundaries including a six.
Another Pakistan all-rounder Aliya Riaz, nonetheless, also found it hard to keep going as she could only score 14 off 24 deliveries.
Following the top order failure and snail-pace knocks of Bismah and Aliya, Pakistan remained 15 runs short of the target as Dar’s valiant effort went in vain.
For Barbados, Shamilia Connell, Aaliyah Alleyne, Matthews, and Deandra Dottin made one scalp each.
Batting first, Barbados finished at a commendable 144/4 in the allotted 20 overs, thanks to the important half-centuries from Matthews and Knight.
Barbados’ start to their innings remained shunned as the side lost their opener Dottin for a combined score of mere nine in the first over, who could only score eight of five deliveries.
Following the early trouble, Matthews and Knight stood up for their team and put Barbados in the commanding position with a magnificent 107-run partnership for the second wicket as both scored fifties.
Matthews lost her way in the 18th over, soon after reaching her half-century and scored 51 off 50 deliveries, laced with four boundaries and a six. Knight, on the other hand, top-scored for the side with an unbeaten 62 off 56 deliveries with the help of nine boundaries.
Besides the dynamic duo, no other Barbados batter could manage to score into the double figures while 14 runs came in as extras.
For Pakistan, Fatima Sana bagged two wickets but remained expensive, while Diana Baig struck out a batter.
