Henry’s all-round heroics hands West Indies win against Pakistan

Chinelle Henry’s all-round heroics helped West Indies to a win over Pakistan in the T20I tri-series in Ireland. Henry’s 65-run sixth-wicket stand with Jannillea Glasgow lifted West Indies to 199 for 8, following which she took two key wickets as Pakistan fell 25 short in their chase.

Opting to bat, West Indies got off to a solid start in the powerplay with Hayley Matthews taking charge.

After she hit three fours off Diana Baig in the second over, Matthews took Fatima Sana on for five fours in the third.

But Baig came back to dismiss her in the fifth over for a 20-ball 40. Pakistan then made inroads by removing Deandra Dottin and Qiana Joseph in back-to-back overs.

Stafanie Taylor lifted West Indies with a series of big hits, clattering four fours and two sixes in her 23-ball stay in which she made 39.

Pakistan again hit back with quick wickets, this time of Taylor and Jahzara Claxton, which brought Henry and Glasgow to the crease.

The duo hit a series of boundaries to put up the highest stand of the match – 65 in 37 balls – with Henry hitting a six and a four off the last three balls of the innings to finish on 33 not out and set a 200-run target for Pakistan. Sana and Baig ended up conceding over 50 runs each in their four overs.

In turn, Pakistan were off to a poor start, Shawnisha Hector striking in the first over to remove Gull Feroza. Muneeba Ali was the next to go, with Henry bowling her for 2 in the second over. Saira Jabeen provided a brief lift with a 19-ball 30, hitting a total of six fours, but did not last long.

Then on, Pakistan were able to put up a few double-digit stands but none significant enough to take them close to a win. Aliya Riaz was their highest scorer with 37 off 28 balls, as they could only muster 174 for 8 in their 20 overs.

West Indies used as many as eight bowlers on the day, with Henry and Hector returning two wickets each. West Indies are in the lead in the tri-series points table, having beaten Ireland in the opening match on Thursday. (ESPNcricinfo)