Pakistan prevent series whitewash after winning third T20 against West Indies

The Pakistan women’s team defeated their West Indies counterparts by 12 runs in the final of a three-match T20 International series at Karachi’s Southend Club Cricket Stadium on Sunday, preventing a whitewash by the visitors who won the series 2-0 with their victory on Friday.

At the outset of the match, Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first, setting the Windies a 151-run target for the loss of six wickets.

Nida Dar was the highest scorer for the green shirts with 53 runs on the scoreboard, followed by Umaima Sohail with 28 runs, and Aliya Riaz with 24 runs.

As the Windies batswomen took to the pitch, Pakistani bowlers Anam Amin and Sana Mir decimated their batting lineup, with the former capturing four wickets, and the latter three.

Sana Mir today also became the first Asian woman to play 100 T20 matches.

DJS Dottin was the lead scorer for the visitors with 46 runs, followed by NY McLean who racked up 26. The Windies were at 138 for eight when the game came to an end.

‘Pakistan safe’

West Indies captain Merissa Aguilleira said that Pakistan was a safe country for international cricket matches.

She was speaking at a dinner arranged for both the teams by Sindh IGP Dr Syed Kaleem Imam at Central Police Office on Saturday night.

Aguilleira observed “people here are peaceful” and expressed the team’s desire to come again to Pakistan.

“We enjoy playing cricket in Pakistan, no matter who wins.”

“Not only we but the cricket professionals are also happy to see that the people of Pakistan love cricket and respect their players,” she said.

Pakistan captain Bisma Maroof on the occasion appreciated the dinner held in honour of the teams by Sindh police. She hoped that international cricket would make a more permanent return to Pakistan.

IG Imam said that the arrival of the West Indies team had demonstrated that the country was safe for cricket. He termed the players “envoys of peace”.

He recalled that when international cricket matches had stopped being held in the country, it was West Indies which played here to show the world that Pakistan was a peaceful country.

Upcoming matches

Following the T20 series, the two teams will play three One Day Internationals in Dubai.

Series schedule:

• January 31 – 1st T20I, Southend Club, Karachi
• February 1 – 2nd T20I, Southend Club, Karachi
• February 3 – 3rd T20I, Southend Club, Karachi
• February 7 – 1st ODI, Dubai International Cricket Stadium (ICC Women’s Championship)
• February 9 – 2nd ODI, ICC Academy, Dubai (ICC Women’s Championship)
• February 11 – 3rd ODI, ICC Academy, Dubai (ICC Women’s Championship)