West Indies, Pakistan clash in Antigua as preparations gain steam for 2022 Women's World Cup

Overview:

West Indies vs Pakistan, first ODI
Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua
July 7, 09:30 am local

After a 3-0 whitewash in the T20I series, the Caribbean outfit are riding high on confidence. Their big guns have been firing on all cylinders. Skipper Stafanie Taylor was at her brilliant all-round best in the third T20I, picking up a hat-trick and scoring an unbeaten 43 to power her side to a victory. Shamilia Connell was also in brilliant form with the ball, accounting for five wickets in the series.

For the visitors, captain Javeria Khan will have a lot to ponder upon to mount a turnaround in the 50-over series. Their batters failed to post big scores on the board, while their bowlers could not get breakthroughs at regular intervals. Javeria will herself have to step up to the mark, having endured a torrid time during the T20I series. The performances of Ayesha Naseem will undoubtedly be a silver lining for the team management.

Remember the last time:

The two sides last clashed in an ODI series in 2015, with West Indies emerging as victors with a 3-1 margin in their own backyard. After losing the first ODI, the hosts went on to clinch victories in the three matches that followed. Stafanie Taylor top-scored with 261 runs in the series, while Anam Amin was the highest wicket-taker with 9 scalps.

What they said:

Stafanie Taylor (West Indies skipper):"We know runs were more on the forefront and trying to restrict them not getting to 115, because I knew that the wickets coming down would be kind of hard to bat on. (Going out to bat) I wouldn't say panic but I knew that today was the day that I had to step up... I just thought that the wicket today was to try to get yourself in and once you're in, you know that you can go big and I think that was my plan."

Javeria Khan (Pakistan skipper): "Certainly, these five matches are very important. They will help us in finalising our combinations ahead of the World Cup Qualifiers and the all-important Women’s World Cup next year. Our goal is to ensure that our batting clicks and every batter performs to the fullest of their potential. These three T20Is have helped us to gauge what the conditions demand from the batters. I am hopeful that we will do well in the ODIs and the batters will handle the pressure well and remain calm in crunch situations."