Pakistan Women vs West Indies Women, 3rd ODI: Pakistan win by 4 wickets to seal series

A resilient half-century from Sidra Ameen and splendid bowling shows from Diana Baig and Nashra Sandhu helped Pakistan women win the three-match ODI series by 2-1 in Dubai. The hosts bowled West Indies women out for 159 in 47.3 overs, as Baig claimed 3 for 42 and Sandhu ended with 3 for 21. Pakistan Women chased down the target in 47.2 overs with 4 wickets remaining.

Windies Women skipper Stafanie Taylor won the toss and opted to bat first. Diana Baig struck in the very first over as she knocked off the stumps of Kycia Knight, for 0. Deandra Dottin took the counter-attacking approach and hit Baig for two sixes, one in the first over and another one in the fifth over of the innings. She also smashed back-to-back fours in the 7th over. Fortunately for the hosts, Dottin's quickfire innings didn't last long as she got run out for 28.

Captain Stafanie Taylor and Shemaine Campbelle batted cautiously, adding 52 runs for the 3rd wicket before Campbelle fell to Nashra Sandhu. Chedean Nation fell cheaply for 3, so did Natasha McLean, the high-scorer for the team in the last match. Chinelle Henry also got out without giving the scoreboard much trouble for 6. However, Taylor kept scoring runs from one end and reached her fifty.

At 129 for 6 after 36 overs, West Indies Women were eyeing somewhere close to the 200-run mark, with Taylor still in the crease. However, Diana Baig caught and bowled Taylor in the 37th over, making it difficult for the tail-enders to reach near the 200-mark. Visitors were bowled out for 159 at last, with Baig and Sandhu clasping three wickets each.

Chasing 160 could be tricky sometimes. Keeping that in mind, Pakistani openers started the proceedings cautiously and added 32 runs for the first wicket in 8.2 overs. Shakera Selman got the breakthrough for her team and dismissed Nahida Khan for 15. Javeria Khan came next and added important 44 runs for the second wicket with Sidra Ameen. Stafanie got rid of her when she was batting on 24. Pakistani skipper Bismah Mahroof was out for 5 and the hosts were 82 for 3.

At this point, the match could have gone any way but Ameen and Nida Dar made another useful partnership of 46 which ensured the chase was right on the track. In between, Ameen reached her well-deserved fifty. She fell shortly after reaching her fifty but the job had been done. Sana Mir and Kainat Imtiaz saw to it that Pakistan went past the finish line. Pakistan Women achieved the target with 4 wickets remaining and 16 balls to spare.