Pakistan lost to the West Indies in the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup qualifier final by 130 runs in Dhaka on Saturday. West Indies set a handsome target of 250 runs with the help of 95 by Deandra Dottin. But Pakistan were only managed to score 130. West Indian spinner Anisa Mohammed bowled outstandingly well and picked seven wickets. She also got ‘Man of the Match’ award. Only four Pakistani players reached the double figures. It is to be mentioned here that Pakistan women’s team had already qualified for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2013 after showing outstanding performances in the event. West Indies have now risen in the Reliance ICC Women’s ODI Team Rankings – West Indies now sit fifth in the world while Pakistan have risen from eighth to now occupy sixth place.
In the third/fourth play-off between Sri Lanka and South Africa at Khanshaheb Osman Ali Stadium, Sri Lanka defeated South Africa by three wickets. Sri Lanka have maintained their global ranking of seven, while South Africa have slipped from fifth to eighth. In Bangladesh’s first ODI since gaining international status on November 24, Salma Khatun’s side defeated Ireland. Ireland now occupy the 10th place. In the seventh/eighth play-off, The Netherlands comfortably defeated USA by 126 runs at BKSP 3.
At Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Merissa Aguilleira won the toss and elected to bat first against Pakistan. West Indies opening duo, Taylor and Juliana Nero, got things going at a quick pace with the pair making 45 in the first 10 overs, but Taylor departed as the ninth over was drawing to its end after she was clean bowled by Pakistan vice-captain Bismah Maroof.
A spectacular 95 from Deandra Dottin saw the young all-rounder from Barbados smash seven sixes, four of them in one over, to help the West Indies to a hefty total of 250 after Juliana Nero had steadied the West Indies batting line up with Taylor and Shanel Daley departing for 32 and 20 respectively. Dottin corner-stoned the West Indian innings, much to the delight of the crowd, she was assisted by Nero, Aguilleira and Stacy-Ann King, the latter providing a lovely cameo with the bat once again. Dottin departed after trying to hit a six off Bismah and was promptly caught by Nain Abidi. In reply, Pakistan took time to get proceedings underway, losing an early wicket in Nida Dar, the 24-year-old promoted up the order to open, and she departed for just two runs after Daley trapped her leg-before. Mohammed then combined with Taylor to spin the Pakistanis out of a chance of reaching the 251 target. Thereafter Mohammed ripped through Pakistan’s batting line-up to remove Qanita Jalil, the top-scorer of the Pakistan side.
Mohammed then worked her magic through the middle-order removing Sana, Bismah Maroof, Nain Abidi, Asmavia Iqbal and the entire lower order to complete the day with match figures of 8.2-1-14-7, it is the 23-year-old’s best bowling in an ODI to date. Pakistan captain, Sana was disappointed with the loss but admitted West Indies were the better side on the day. “We know we can play better cricket than we did today, but that being said, credit must go to the West Indies team who played a superb all-round game. “We’re pleased we have qualified for both the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 and the ICC Women’s World Cup, plus we have gone up in the Reliance ICC Women’s ODI Team Rankings from eighth to sixth which I am thrilled about,” she added.
