West Indians make WCQ Team of the Tournament despite failure

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CMC):

THE WEST Indies Women’s trio of Captain Hayley Matthews, Chinelle Henry, and Aliyah Alleyne were named in the ICC’s Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier Team of the Tournament, following impressive performances in Pakistan.

Matthews, one of three women to score a century in the tournament, scored 240 runs at an average of 60, including a fighting, unbeaten 113 against Scotland in their opening match and a brutal 70 against Thailand in their last match.

Matthews, an off-spinner, also ended as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker with 13 wickets and also grabbed four catches.

Henry also had a stellar outing, with the allrounder scoring 171 runs, including an unbeaten 51 against Bangladesh and a boundary-studded 48 off just 17 balls against Thailand.

She also took one wicket and held on to four catches.

Meanwhile, Alleyne starred with the ball, her 12 wickets tied for second most in the competition.

She took a wicket in every match and delivered a career-best 4-39 in an all-important clash against Bangladesh.

Alleyne also chipped in with several cameos lower down the order.

The all-star team also comprises Scotland’s Kathryn Bryce, the tournament’s highest run scorer, Bangladesh’s Nigar Sultana and Pakistan’s Fatima Sana, who was named captain.

The West Indies failed to make it to the World Cup despite the performances, finishing third behid Bangladesh, with an inferior net run rate that was just 0.2 from being enough.

In the final game against Thailand, the West Indies needed to score 172 in 11 overs to get into the marquee tournament, but only managed 168 in 10.5 to just miss out.

Former captain Stafanie Taylor was at bat with the West Indies needing to strike a four to tie scores against Bangladesh’s 166, and then needing a six to get to the magical total.

However, Taylor struck her lofted straight drive too cleanly, clearing the ropes to end the game and West Indies hopes.

The team is dominated by the qualifiers, with the unbeaten Pakistan boasting four, and second-placed Bangladesh holding down three spots, including the side’s reserve in Rabeya Khan.

Scotland, who surprised the West Indies in the opening qualifier that could be counted as the source of the latter’s demise, have two players in the all-star team.

TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT

Hayley Matthews (West Indies), Muneeba Ali (Pakistan), Sharmin Akhter (Bangladesh), Kathryn Bryce (Scotland), Nigar Sultana (Bangladesh) (wk),

Fatima Sana (Pakistan) (c), Chinelle Henry (West Indies), Aaliyah Alleyne (West Indies), Katherine Fraser (Scotland), Nashra Sandhu (Pakistan), Sadia Iqbal (Pakistan)

Reserve Player: Rabeya Khan (Bangladesh)