The West Indies Women’s team endured a heart-wrenching defeat at the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers in Pakistan on Wednesday, falling short by just 11 runs to Scotland in their tournament opener at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground.

Despite a breathtaking century and impressive bowling display from captain Hayley Matthews, the Windies were unable to chase down Scotland’s target of 245, eventually being bowled out for 233 in 46.2 overs.

Matthews was the star for the West Indies, delivering an outstanding performance with both bat and ball. She smashed an unbeaten 114 off 113 balls, which included 14 boundaries, powering her side’s chase. The Barbados native found support from Zaida James, who contributed a solid 45 runs with 5 fours and a six. The pair shared a crucial 113-run partnership for the second wicket, which brought the West Indies back into the game after an early stumble.

However, the momentum was broken when Matthews was stretchered off the field with severe cramps, leaving her team to continue the chase without their talisman. Despite her return after the fall of the ninth wicket, the damage had already been done, and the Windies fell short of the target. Aaliyah Alleyne’s contribution of 17 and Chinelle Henry’s 12 were not enough to get the team over the line, as they were bowled out for 233.

Earlier, Scotland had set the Windies a challenging target after being asked to bat first. Wicketkeeper Sarah Bryce top-scored with 55, while Megan McColl added 45. Darcey Carter and Katherine Fraser contributed with 25 runs each as Scotland was bowled out for 244 in 45 overs. Matthews led the charge with the ball, taking 4 wickets for 56 runs. It saw her become only the fourth player to take four wickets and score a century in an ODI. Aaliyah Alleyne and Karishma Ramharack also played important roles, picking up 2 wickets each.

The defeat was a massive setback for the West Indies, who will now need to regroup quickly ahead of their next match against Ireland on Thursday, April 10.