WWc 2022: Pace bowler Shamilia Connell collapses in West Indies while fielding

MOUNT MAUNGANUI: Shamilia Connell, a pace bowler for the West Indies, fell while playing in the Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand on Friday and was rushed to hospital in an ambulance.

What occurred to the 29-year-old was not immediately clear, but she was able to walk to the ambulance, and teammate Hayley Matthews said, “We believe she’ll be alright.”

“Obviously it’s a bit worrying to see her go down like that but she’s a fighter,” said Matthews.

The event occurred near the end of a valiant West Indies comeback that saw them beat Bangladesh by four runs.

Matthews bowled a career-best 4-15 to save the West Indies’ blushes after they were dismissed for 140-9 at Mount Maunganui.

In the race for a top-four semi-final position, the West Indies are now ahead of hosts New Zealand, India, and defending champions England, as well as favourites Australia and South Africa.

When Bangladesh’s spinners ripped through the West Indies’ batting line-up, they threatened to blow the championship wide open.

The modest target of 141 proved too much for the tournament debutants, who finished four runs short in the last over with three balls to go.

“How our bowlers started was incredible but I’m pretty disappointed with the batting,” said captain Nigar Sultana, Bangladesh’s joint top-scorer with 25 runs.

“We lacked partnerships and I should have played until the end.”

Deandra Dottin and Matthews, the openers, were removed for 17 and 18 runs, respectively, by Bangladesh’s spinners.

They then ripped through the middle order, dismissing six wickets for 30 runs, leaving the West Indies floundering at 70-7 and looked unlikely to complete their 50 overs.

Shemaine Campbelle stopped a rout by scoring an unbeaten 53 off 107 balls in her second half-century of the competition, giving the West Indies a 140-9 total that they could defend.

The highest bowling stats for Bangladesh came from Nahida Akter and Salma Khatun, who both finished with 2-23, but the entire team performed admirably, bringing zip and passion to the field.

With the ball, the West Indies got off to a terrific start, removing Shamima Sultana for a duck in the opening over.

Bangladesh were reduced to 60-5 as spinner Afy Fletcher claimed three wickets in two overs, including a pair in consecutive balls.

Captain Sultana tried to steady the innings but was stranded lbw on 25 by Matthews, who then clean-bowled Rumana Ahmed.

As the run chase tightened, the West Indies dropped three catches, and the treatment of Shamilia Connell brought play to a standstill in the 47th over.

With no wickets in hand, Bangladesh needed eight runs from the last over, but West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor got an inside edge off Fariha Trisna’s third delivery to end the game.

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