Chasing a target of 163 for victory after Pakistan Women A were bowled out for 162 in 44.2 overs, West Indies Women A scored 164-7 from 44.5 overs.
Batting first, Pakistan Women A succumbed to the wily spin of Claxton, who snared 4-19, an outstanding return for a player relatively new to the game. Sidra led all scorers for Pakistan with 27 with contributions of 23, 22 and 21 from Anohsa Nasir, Shawaal Zulfiqar and Eyman Fatima, respectively.
Sheneta Grimmond (2-40) and Zaida James (2-25) were also key players in the WIW A’s bowling effort.
Gajnabi’s 51 laid the foundation for the WIW A’s chase, even though the Caribbean women lost wickets regularly as Rameen Shamim (4-13) and Saima Malik (2-38) produced yeoman efforts to secure victory for the hosts.
However, key knocks of 37 from Shunelle Sawh and 24 Shabika Gajnabi help steer the West Indies Women towards the series-clinching victory. Cherry Ann Fraser’s 18 runs also proved crucial for the tourists.
The tourists won the toss and put the hosts into bat. Pakistan achieved their score on the back of 50 by Sidra Nawaz and scores of 32 and 25 by Shawaal Zulfiqar and Eyman Fatima, respectively.
Ashmini Munisar’s off-spin proved instrumental for the West Indies taking 3-21 from her 10-over allotment with Qiana Joseph proving a worthwhile back-up with 2-30.
Williams got her 71 from 94 balls for the West Indies with Shabika Gajnabi scoring 25 and Zaida James weighing in with a patient 23 from 57 balls to help steer the tourists to victory and levelling the series at a game apiece.
Left-arm spin bowler Anosha Nasir took 3-36 in a valiant effort for Pakistan.
The matches will be played at Antigua’s Coolidge Cricket Ground and Sir Vivian Richards Stadium with the ‘A’ Team matches preceding the Senior team matches in back-to-back “doubleheader” fixtures.
Taylor considered one of the best all-rounders in the world in the women’s game, will again captain the senior team that will also include vice-captain Anisa Mohammed, Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Britney Cooper, Deandra Dottin, Chinelle Henry, Kycia Knight, Hayley Matthews, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack and Shakera Selman.
Reniece Boyce will lead the ‘A’ team that will feature two young players from the Windward Islands - 16-year-old left-arm medium-pacer, Zaida James, and 17-year-old right-arm medium-pacer, Jannillea Glasgow.
Both players were called up for the first time to the West Indies Women’s training squad and now have made their way into the ‘A’ team squad after impressing during the pre-series camp.
The other members of the ‘A’ team include Shabika Gajnabi (vice-captain), Shanika Bruce, Cherry Ann Fraser, Sheneta Grimmond, Japhina Joseph, Mandy Mangru, Kaysia Schultz, Steffie Soogram, Rachel Vincent and Rashada Williams.
Chief women’s selector Ann Browne-John believes the coming series could not have come at a better time, as the women have been short of games because of the pandemic. The West Indies Women last played an international match against England in September 2020.
“This series against Pakistan has come at an opportune time because the West Indies players have not been able to face international opponents since September 2020. It’s exciting that not only will the senior team be in action, but for the very first time a West Indies ‘A’ Team will have the opportunity to compete against international opposition,” she said.
“As we prepare for the upcoming five CG Insurance ODI match series, these three T20Is will enable the senior team to ease themselves back into the international arena. The ‘A’ team matches are an excellent chance for some of the younger players who have not been able to find a place in the senior team to show their skills.”
The CG Insurance T20I and One Day International (ODI) series will allow for all 28 players to be eligible for selection on both teams.
Asked to bat first, West Indies posted a paltry 97-6 from their allotment and that was easily knocked off by Pakistan, who got to 99-2 with 25 balls to spare.
Scores: West Indies Women's A 97-6 (20 overs); Pakistan Women's A 99-2 (15.5 overs)
West Indies suffered and early setback as opener Shabika Gajnabi retired hurt with just eight runs on the board.
That brough captain Rashada Williams to the middle earlier than she would have hoped, but together with Qiana Joseph, added 51 to the board. Joseph, who topscored with a 39-ball 35, which included five fours, fell soon after with the Caribbean side at 59-1 in the 11th over.
Gajnabi returned but added only two runs to the board before she was bowled by Saima Malik for 10.
Williams (18) followed shortly after, and from there it was a downward spiral, as they lost wickets at regular intervals, with Zaida James (12), the only other batter to get into double figures.
Rameen Shamim and Omaima Sohail, both ended with identical figures of 2-17 from four overs to lead Pakistan's bowling.
Much like West Indies, Pakistan's run chase started shakily, as Cherry-Ann Fraser combined with Williams behind the stumps to remove Eyman Fatima (5) with the score at 10-1.
However, Shawaal Zulfiqar and Gull Feroza, steadied the innings with a 43-run second wicket stand that pushed the host closer to their target.
So, even when Feroza went leg-before-wicket to Joseph for a run-a-ball 23, which included three boundaries, Pakistan were in no real danger at 53-2 in the ninth over.
From there, it was left for Zulfiqar, with an unbeaten 39 off 38 balls, and Sohail, with an unbeaten 23-ball 20, to see off the remaining runs. Zulfiqar's knock had four boundaries, while Sohail had a solitary four in her innings.
