After a stinging opening-day defeat to underdogs Scotland, the West Indies Women find themselves already teetering on the edge in the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers, and head coach Shane Deitz is sounding the rallying cry.

Deitz did not sugarcoat the performance in Wednesday’s 11-run loss in Lahore. Despite a heroic all-round effort from captain Hayley Matthews, who almost single-handedly dragged her side to the brink of victory with four wickets and an unbeaten century, the rest of the team failed to rise to the occasion.

"It was a pretty poor effort overall,” Deitz admitted bluntly in a post-match interview with CWI media.

"Scotland wanted it more; they took it to us, and we just didn’t respond. Whether it was complacency or not backing ourselves, we’ve got to figure it out fast because it wasn't good enough. This can’t happen again," he declared.

However, the West Indies will have an opportunity to get their qualifying campaign back on course in a showdown against Ireland on Thursday starting at 11:30 pm Jamaica time. In fact, it is one of four fixtures that have now transformed into must-wins for the Caribbean side as the qualification path narrows sharply.

For Deitz, the circumstances are not unfamiliar, as he draws inspiration from previous West Indies tournament runs where adversity sparked their best cricket.

"We’ve done it before in the T20 World Cup; after losing our first game, we came back really hard. So maybe the pressure will cause us to play better because every game from now is a grand final. No tomorrow. We have to leave everything out there," Deitz noted.

That fighting spirit was certainly embodied by Matthews, who was simply phenomenal. After bowling her full quota of overs and bagging 4-56 to help limit Scotland to 244, the Windies skipper returned to craft a majestic 114 not out in an innings that, quite literally, required pain management and defiance.

Matthews had to retire hurt on 95, with her team in trouble, before bravely returning to the crease with the game slipping away.

"She is a great leader, and she just shows what can be done when you push yourself and you've got that will to win no matter what, and that's what she did. So the lesson is for all of us that we've got to get in there and do a bit more and take more personal responsibility and try to win the game. That is what Hayley does every time. She's a legend," the Australian said in admiration of the skipper's grit.

Still, Deitz is not just calling for a fight, but he is demanding accountability as Ireland, like the other teams to come, is no pushover.

"Ireland is a good team, so that's going to be a great contest. So we've got to leave everything out on the field, not hold back in any way. And that will definitely be the chat we'll have, and we're going to come out, come out real hard next game," he ended.