Pakistan were brilliant with the ball but struggled with bat in a tense four-run loss to West Indies in the Women's World Twenty20 match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Wednesday.
In scenes similar to the Pakistan-Bangladesh game a little earlier, Sana Mir's side had the support of the small local crowd as they restricted West India to 103/8 in their 20 overs.
The wily left-arm spinner Anam Amin was the wrecker-in-chief, returning figures of 4-16-4. She found good support in Sadia Yousuf (2-13) as the West Indies struggled to get out of the blocks.
Opener Stafanie Taylor, 40 off 48 balls, was the top-scorer for West Indies.
In response, Pakistan suffered a big blow after opener Javeria Khan was struck on the jaw and collapsed before being stretchered off the field. Scans revealed that she was in good shape but Mir's side were clearly shaken.
Sidra Ameen and Bismah Maroof then combined in a 39-run stand to give Pakistan's chase some stability but both were dismissed just at the wrong time for scores of 20 and 22 respectively.
Although there were small contributions by Muneeba Ali (15), Sana Mir (18) and Asmavia Iqbal (19), Pakistan just could not hold their nerve to wipe off the 12 runs required in the final over. They finished on 99/5 in their 20 overs.
Pakistan next plays India Women in New Delhi on Saturday, while West Indies stays back in Chennai to take on Bangladesh Women on Sunday.
