Women's T20 World Cup: Hayley Matthews' All-Round Show Steers West Indies To Thrilling Win Over Pakistan

Women's T20 World Cup: Matthews' Scored 20 off 21 and returned with figures of 2/14 to help her side clinch a thriller.

Hayley Matthews of West Indies celebrates the wicket of Sidra Amin of Pakistan during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup group B match between Pakistan and West Indies at Boland Park on February 19, 2023 in Paarl, South Africa.

West Indies registered a thrilling three-run win over Pakistan in their Women's T20 World Cup face-off to keep their dim hopes of a semifinal qualification alive at the  Boland Park, Paarl on Sunday. Opting to bat first, the Windies had posted 116/6 with the help of useful knocks from Rashada Williams (30 off 34) and Hayley Matthews (20 off 21) with S Campbelle (22), Chinelle Henry (11) and Shabika Gajnabi (13) also chipping in with the bat.

In response, Pakistan's Aliya Riaz 29 off 23 kept the Women in Green in the chase till the last ball but eventually it was the Women from the Caribbean that emerged victorious. Nida Dar (27 off 31) and captain Bismah Maroof (26 off 33) also had a role to play in Pakistan's chase after the team had lost two early wickets being reduced to 15/2 in the fifth over.

West Indies clung on to impressively defend just 116 🔒

And Pakistan’s loss has big implications on the make-up of the semi-finalists ⬇#PAKvWI | #T20WorldCup | #TurnItUp

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) February 19, 2023

Both sides were very economical which could be gauged from the fact that it was a low-scoring contest. However, Dar was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan, returning with figures of 2 for 13 but it wasn't enough for her to end up on the winning side. Matthews' 2 for 14 along with Karishma Ramharack (1/18) and Afy Fletcher (1/26) proved to be enough to defend the modest score posted by their batters.

The win has just about kept West Indies alive in the race to the semis who will now have to wait for other results to go in their favour to reach the knockout stage of the competition. After a couple of defeats, West Indies finished their Group Stage fixtures with wins over Ireland and Pakistan and are third at the table after England and India with Pakistan following them. However, the remaining teams have a match left.

A close finish but a much needed victory! WI WIN.#T20WorldCup | #MaroonWarriors pic.twitter.com/qwJtgrqUfs

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) February 19, 2023