Amin, Bowlers Shine as Pakistan Leave West Indies’ World Cup Hopes Hanging by a Thread

West Indies’ hopes of qualifying for the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup took a significant blow after they crashed to a 65-run defeat against Pakistan in the ongoing qualifier in Lahore. It was West Indies’ second loss in three games, and they now face a must-win situation in their final two fixtures, with their fate also depending on other results.

Pakistan, meanwhile, continued their unbeaten run in the tournament and now sit atop the points table. While they too have tough matches remaining against Bangladesh and Thailand, they remain firmly on course for World Cup qualification.

Pakistan Defend Modest Total with Discipline

After being asked to bat first, Pakistan posted 191 runs in 48.5 overs, a modest total by modern ODI standards but one that proved more than enough thanks to a clinical bowling and fielding performance. Sidra Amin top-scored with a patient 54 off 86 balls, while Muneeba Ali added 33. Their 47-run partnership for the second wicket was the highest of the innings.

Despite the absence of any major partnerships, Pakistan found ways to accumulate runs, aided by misfields and disciplined rotation of strike. However, the scoring rate remained a concern, with none of the top five batters striking above 60.

West Indies’ bowlers, led by captain Hayley Matthews (2 for 30) and Afy Fletcher (2 for 39), had done the hard work early by keeping the batters in check. But their efforts were let down by a fragile batting response.

Fatima Sana Strikes Early, West Indies Collapse

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana led from the front with the ball, striking on the very first delivery of the chase. Matthews was trapped lbw by a full, straight ball – a decision she looked unhappy with, but with no DRS available in the qualifiers, she had to walk back for a golden duck.

West Indies’ innings quickly unraveled with two run-outs adding to their woes. Shemaine Campbelle was caught short after a brilliant direct hit from keeper Sidra Nawaz, who also orchestrated another smart run-out just three overs later to remove Zaida James.

With experienced batter Stafanie Taylor temporarily unavailable due to illness, the West Indies batting line-up lost momentum. By the time Taylor was eligible to bat – more than an hour into the innings – her team was already five wickets down.

Pakistan Spin Attack Seals the Game

Chinelle Henry showed some early promise with a pair of boundaries, but her stay was brief. Left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu removed both Henry and Jannillea Glasgow in quick succession, leaving the visitors in tatters at 54 for 5.

Taylor eventually came out and added a fighting 34-run stand with Shabika Gajnabi, briefly reviving hopes. She even cleared the ropes with a clean hit off Rameen Shamim, but was soon dismissed for 19, caught at short fine leg by Muneeba.

From there, it was only a matter of time. Sana returned to clean up the tail, finishing with impressive figures of 3 for 16, her second successive three-wicket haul in the tournament.

Qualification Hangs in Balance

With this loss, West Indies' qualification hopes have become precarious. Following a shock defeat to Scotland earlier in the tournament, they now must beat both Bangladesh and Thailand in their remaining fixtures – and hope other results fall in their favour.

Pakistan, despite their unbeaten run, also have areas to work on. Their top-order scoring rate has been sluggish, with Amin’s 54 off 86 and Muneeba’s 33 off 60 raising concerns about the lack of acceleration. However, the consistency of their bowlers and improving fielding has masked the shortcomings.

What’s Next

Pakistan face Thailand on Thursday and conclude their campaign against Bangladesh on Saturday. Should they secure qualification, their World Cup matches will be played outside India, under the agreed hybrid model between the BCCI and PCB.

West Indies, with two days off before their clash against Bangladesh, have serious questions to answer — particularly around their batting order and whether to bring back Qiana Joseph for added depth.

Match Summary:
Pakistan 191 in 48.5 overs (Amin 54, Matthews 2-30, Fletcher 2-39)
West Indies 126 in 35.4 overs (Alleyne 22, Sana 3-16, Shamim 2-26)
Result: Pakistan won by 65 runs
Player of the Match: Fatima Sana – 3 for 16