Ramharack shines as WI Women clinch ODI series

KARACHI, Pakistan (CMC):

Karishma Ramharack had a day to remember when she followed up a penetrative spell with a boundary off the last ball to hand West Indies Women a thrilling, two-wicket win against hosts Pakistan Women in their second ICC Women’s Championship One-day International (ODI) yesterday.

Ramharack got the last ball of the match from pacer Fatima Sana to edge past the left of wicketkeeper Najiha Alvi and into the boundary for four, enabling the Caribbean side to wildly celebrate a successful chase of 224 for victory in the 50 overs-a-side match at the National Stadium.

The visitors again got off to a sluggish start, reaching 37 for one at the close of the first Power Play, and they continued to struggle to increase the scoring tempo throughout the chase against the heavily spin-biased attack of their opponents.

They still appeared to be on track for victory at 159 for two, with former captain Stafanie Taylor and newly appointed vice-captain Shemaine Campbelle in firm control during a third-wicket stand of 88 with 65 required and 13 overs remaining.

But six wickets – three of them to Pakistan captain Nida Dar, including Afy Fletcher off the penultimate ball of the match – put West Indies Women on the brink of a disastrous finish before the stroke of good fortune for Ramharack.

Taylor hit the top score of 73 from 90 balls for the Caribbean side to earn the Player of the Match award, Campbelle made 52 from 73 balls, their captain Hayley Matthews supported with 44, and fellow all-rounder Chinelle Henry got 23, while Dar was the pick of the home team’s bowlers taking four for 52 from nine overs with her off-spin.

CHAMPIONSHIP

The result meant that the visitors take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series and earned two more points in the 10-team ICC Women’s Championship table towards direct qualification for next year’s ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup to be staged in India.

Matthews’ side now have 12 points from 14 matches, and they are still ninth in the standings with plenty of work to do to try to become one of the five teams that directly qualify for the World Cup along with the hosts.

Consequently, the bottom four teams in the Women’s Championship, and the two teams ranked at 11th and 12th in the ICC ODI rankings, will progress to a qualifying tournament – the details of which are to be announced later – from which the top two will complete the line-up for the global showpiece.

Earlier, pacer Henry took three for 37 from 8.5 overs, Ramharack bagged three for 47 from her allotted 10 overs with her off-spin, and leg-spinner Afy Fletcher captured two for 46 from her 10 overs to lead the West Indies Women’s bowling.

The bowlers of the Caribbean side fought back and bowled out Pakistan Women for 223 in 48.5 overs after the hosts won the toss and decided to bat.

The visitors appeared to be on their heels when the Pakistanis were cruising on 91 for one with Bismah Maroof and Sidra Ameen at the height of a second wicket stand of 80.

Fletcher trapped Ameen leg before wicket for an even 50 (off 70 balls) in the 21st over, and Pakistan Women lost their last eight wickets – including Maroof for the top score of 65 (off 105 balls) – between the 26th and penultimate overs of the innings in the hunt for quick runs.