Batting issues plague Windies Women against Pakistan

West Indies women's assistant coach Corey Collymore says their struggles with the bat at the ICC Women's World Cup have finally caught up with them in their seven-wicket loss to Pakistan in the rain-affected encounter in Hamilton on Monday.

The West Indies were restricted to 89 from their 20 overs in a rain-shortened match as off-spinner Nida Dar took the best figures for Pakistan in a World Cup, with 4 for 10, helping end an 18-match losing streak in the tournament. The last time Pakistan won a match in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup was also against the West Indies.

Deandra Dottin was the innings top scorer for the West Indies with 27, with Hayley Matthews getting 18, and Afy Fletcher 12 not out.

Once again, the team's struggles with the bat were highlighted, with the middle order failing to spark, and Collymore said the evidence of the team's batting frailty was once again exposed, with the team now uncertain of their final four berths.

"I honestly think we were struggling all tournament," he said after the game. "I think it's finally caught up with us. We didn't bat well enough today, and at some stage, if you keep playing like that it will catch up with you."

Throughout the tournament, the West Indies had been relying on the top order to post scores with Matthews, Dottin, skipper Stafanie Taylor, Shemaine Campbell, and Chedean Nation all contributing scores at some point.

"Everyone keeps saying we've got quality batters, but quality batters are not putting up quality performances, and that still does not mean a quality team," Collymore said.

A five-hour delayed start due to heavy rain and a water-logged outfield meant the contest was transformed into a Twenty20 affair, leaving West Indies with the advantage.

However, they lost Matthews cheaply in the fifth over, slicing seamer Fatima Sana to backward point for one before Dottin followed with the score on 34 for 2 in the 10th over, slapping a length delivery back to Dar.

Campbelle (7) walked past one from Dar and was stumped in the 12th over, and further trouble ensued when Nation was bowled through the gate without scoring by off-spinner Omaima Sohail.

Taylor, dropped before she had scored, endured an arduous labour that eventually came to nothing when she was smartly caught and bowled by left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu going to her left.

In reply, when leg-spinner Afy Fletcher bowled Sidra Ameen for eight with the score on 22 in the sixth over, West Indies appeared in with a chance, but Muneeba dashed those hopes before Bismah Maroof and Sohail sealed the finish.

The West Indies remain third on the points table with six points but have played six matches with only one more league match to go against South Africa on Thursday. Australia has already qualified with five straight wins while South Africa are second having won all their four matches so far. India, England, and New Zealand are on four points each.

"One more game is still another World Cup game, and it is still another international game," Collymore said. "So you have to go in it with a positive mindset and look to win the game."