Ameen, Baig help Pakistan draw level against Windies

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat at the ICC Academy in Dubai on Saturday. They notched a total of 240 and the Windies had their work cut out for them on a tricky surface.

None of the top five could score a half-century and thus, they struggled to build a foundation for the rest of the chase. Skipper Stafanie Taylor tried her best with a 68-ball 48, while Natasha McLean looked impressive with her 76-ball 82, her maiden ODI fifty.

The rest of the Windies lineup wilted against Pakistan's powerful bowling attack. While Baig claimed four scalps, Sana Mir and Nashra Sandhu picked up seven wickets between them.

The Windies started their innings slow, adding just nine runs in four overs, which included two maidens. The pressure mounted and ultimately, Pakistan drew their first blood. Dottin, who had struggled her way to a 15-ball four, fell to Baig in the fifth over. Kycia Knight and Shemaine Campbelle did not last long and the Windies were reduced to 27/3 within 11 overs.

Chedean Nation played out 41 balls for her 23 runs and tried to support her captain in the middle. However, she fell to Sandhu after a 55-run stand and Pakistan got back into the game. Taylor was dismissed two overs later leaving a little too much to do for McLean in the latter half of the chase.

The rest of batting lineup offered little resistance before Shamilia Connell trudged to the middle at No.11. She frustrated the bowlers with her resistance and collaborated with McClean for a gritty stand for the final wicket.

The duo took their team from 144/9 to 206 all-out, adding 62 runs between them – the highest partnership of the innings. It seemed like the pair would carry on till the end of the innings, only for Mcclean to be dismissed off Dar on the fourth ball of final over. The resistance at the near end of the innings will be important for the Windies net run-rate in the ICC Women's Championship.

Earlier in the day, a splendid batting effort from Ameen at the top of the order helped propel Pakistan to a decent total. The opener got support in Dar, who tallied 81 runs at No.5. Nahida Khan, Ameen's opening partner, was dismissed by Shakera Selman in the fifth over.

Javeria Khan and skipper Bismah Maroof followed soon, falling to Shamilia Connell and Deandra Dottin for single-digit scores. Pakistan were in a spot of bother at 52/3, when Dar joined Ameen in the middle. The duo, however, turned the tide of the game, notching a 102-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Ameen – who deserved a century for her stupendous display on the day – was unfortunate to fall for a run-out orchestrated by Stafanie Taylor. Aliya Riaz, the next batter in, did not last long as her wicket was knocked over by Afy Fletcher. Sana Mir kept Dar company with her useful knock of 21 in the lower order, but was another victim of Taylor's swift work on the field.

Dar hit two fours and one six in an attempt to accelerate, but was eventually trapped LBW by Dottin. The tail could not make significant contributions, as Pakistan was bundled out for 240.