LAHORE: Pakistan women made a losing start to their challenging European tour when the 2016 T20 World Cup champions West Indies defeated them by 25 runs in their opening match of the tri-nation T20I series in Dublin on Friday.

Electing to bat first, the West Indies reached 84 for three at the halfway stage before finishing at an imposing 199 for six. Pakistan, in turn, collapsed to 52 for four in the PowerPlay before recovering to 174 for eight.

This was the West Indies’ second successive victory in the series, having defeated hosts Ireland by eight wickets on Thursday. Overall, it was the West Indies’ 18th victory over Pakistan in 25 T20Is.

After Muneeba Ali (2), Gull Feroza (4) and Ayesha Zafar (7) fell cheaply, the middle-order batters held the innings together and helped Pakistan reach a respectable total. Aliya Riaz top-scored with 37 off 28 balls with eight fours, while Fatima Sana (27 off 14 balls, two fours, two sixes), Iram Javed (24) and Rameen Shamim (18) were the other notable contributors.

For the West Indies, Chinelle Henry and Shawnisha Hector took two wickets apiece.

Earlier, the West Indies had collected 64 runs in the last five overs to post 199 for six. Number seven batter Jannillea Glasgow led the death-over assault with a 25-ball 42 that included seven fours, stitching a 67-run sixth-wicket partnership from 37 balls with Chinelle Henry, who remained unbeaten on 33 off 17 balls with four fours and a six.

Two top-order partnerships had set the platform for the late charge. Openers Deandra Dottin (17 off 16 balls, two fours) and Hayley Matthews (40 off 20 balls, nine fours) added 57 runs in 30 balls, while Stafanie Taylor (39 off 23 balls, four fours, two sixes) and Jahzara Claxton (17 off 14 balls, three fours) put on 54 runs for the fourth wicket from 30 balls.

Rameen Shamim and Nashra Sandhu bowled tidily, each picking up two wickets while conceding 27 and 29 runs respectively. However, it was a day to forget for Diana Baig and Fatima Sana with the ball. Their combined figures produced the two most expensive spells ever bowled by a Pakistan woman in T20Is, surpassing Nida Dar’s previous record of 47 runs against England in 2023. Diana Baig returned figures of four overs for 58 runs and one wicket, while Fatima Sana went for 50 runs from her four overs without taking a wicket.

Pakistan face Ireland on Sunday.

Scores in brief:

Match 2 – West Indies Women beat Pakistan Women by 25 runs

WEST INDIES WOMEN 199-6, 20 overs (Jannillea Glasgo 42, Hayley Matthews 40, Stafanie Taylor 39, Chinelle Henry 33 not out, Rameen Shamim 2-27, Nashra Sandhu 2-29)

PAKISTAN WOMEN 174-8, 20 overs (Aliya Riaz 37, Saira Jabeen 30, Fatima Sana 27, Iram Javed 24, Rameen Shamim 18; Chinelle Henry 2-13, Shawnisha Hector 2-21).

Match 1 – West Indies Women beat Ireland Women by eight wickets

IRELAND WOMEN 103 all-out, 17 overs (Orla Prendergast 25, Leah Paul 21, Qiana Joseph 3-8, Jahzara Claxton 2-9, Zaida James 2-10)

WEST INDIES WOMEN 104-2, 11.3 overs (Hayley Matthews 82 not out)