Kycia Knight and Matthews help Barbados defeat Pakistan

Nida Dar’s half-century was for nothing as the loss now sets up a critical matchup with India.

Hayley Matthews & Kycia Knight each scored half-centuries to help Barbados defeat Pakistan by 15 runs in their opening Commonwealth Games matchup on Friday in Birmingham.

After being given the opportunity to bat, Barbados scored 144 for 4 thanks to the pair’s 107-run collaboration for the second wicket. Prior to that, they had lost their dynamic opener Deandra Dottin scoring 8 off 5 balls.

In their second T20I half-century, Kycia, the wicketkeeper-batter for Barbados, top-scored with an unbeaten 62 off 56 balls and nine fours. Matthews played carefully, scoring 51 points (four fours and a six) out of 50 balls. It was her fifth fifty in a T20I.

In the 18th over, Matthews was caught behind by Pakistani medium pacer Fatima Sana, ending the century partnership. In the last over of the innings, Sana also got rid of Kyshona Knight, giving her an overall score of 2 for 41.

Iram Javed being caught behind by Shamilia Connell on the first delivery of Pakistan’s 145-run chase, giving them their first wicket. In the following nine overs, Pakistan lost both of its openers, Muneeba Ali and Omaima Sohail, and skipper Bismah Maroof’s laborious innings, which lasted 12 off 28 balls, was over when she was run out in the eleventh ended.

Nida Dar, a veteran all-rounder, increased the pace when Pakistan entered the ninth over at 40 for 3, urgently in need of momentum.

Her unbroken 50 off 31 deliveries, which was her seventh T20I half-century, accelerated the game. However, Pakistan was unable to maintain the needed run rate and ultimately came up short by 15 runs as a result of Aliya Riaz’s struggles at the other end (she made 14 off 24). For Barbados, Connell, Aaliyah Alleyne, Matthews, and Dottin each claimed a wicket.

Next up for Pakistan is India on Friday, and Barbados’ next opponent is Australia on Sunday.