"VAN" (Sports Desk - 20.04.2025) :: Bangladesh have sealed the second spot to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, despite losing to Pakistan, who made it five wins from five in Lahore.
The hosts won the opening match of the final day by seven wickets, leaving the door ajar for the West Indies if they could wrap up a quick victory against Thailand.
They fell agonisingly short of making up the net run rate deficit in spite of chasing down 166 in just under 11 overs, with Hayley Matthews making a 29-ball 70.
It means Pakistan and Bangladesh complete the line-up for the showpiece, hosted by India, joining the hosts, Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan complete perfect Qualifier
Bangladesh knew a win would seal their qualification but they were quickly on the back foot at 21 for three as Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana took two early wickets.
Sharmin Akter (24) helped steady the ship before becoming the first of two scalps for Diana Baig, but Ritu Moni (48) and Fahima Khatun (44 not out) chipped in with valuable middle order runs.
Any hopes of a truly competitive total were dashed by Sadia Iqbal, however, as the opening bowler returned to take two more wickets and finish with three for 28 from her 10 overs, restricting Bangladesh to 178 for nine.
Marufa Akter struck with the second ball of the reply to dismiss Shawaal Zulfiqar but Muneeba Ali and Sidra Amin combined to take the game away from Bangladesh.
Sidra made 33 and Muneeba contributed 69 runs from 93 balls to take her side to the brink of victory.
The job was completed by Aliya Riaz, who finished unbeaten on 52 and was supported by Natalia Pervaiz (13 not out) as Pakistan completed the job with 10.2 overs to spare.
Matthews blitz in vain as Windies fall just short
The West Indies’ batting line-up showed their firepower in a six-wicket win over Thailand but it was not enough to carry them to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, meaning they miss out on the competition for the first time since 2000.
Natthakan Chantham led the way with 66 for Thailand but the Windies chipped away with regular wickets to restrict their opponents, with Afy Fletcher taking four for 20 to reach 100 ODI wickets.
Aaliyah Alleyne claimed three for 41 and Ashmini Munisar two for 15 – including the key scalp of Chantham – as Thailand were dismissed for 166 in the 47th over.
West Indies set out for the reply knowing they needed to chase 167 in 10 overs or fewer to leapfrog Bangladesh – and they so nearly did.
Matthews started the carnage with 11 fours and two sixes in her remarkable knock which saw her record the second-fastest half-century in the history of women’s ODIs, coming in just 21 balls.
She and Qiana Joseph (26 off 12) added 81 for the opening wicket in just 5.3 overs and Matthews then fell at the end of the seventh over.
Chinelle Henry picked up the mantle and cleared the ropes at will but the ninth over ended with West Indies requiring 31 – they took 20 from it but fell short of reaching victory in the required time to earn the second qualifying spot.
Henry fell in the next over for a staggering 17-ball 48, including five sixes, and Stafanie Taylor fittingly finished the job with a maximum but it came just too late to carry West Indies through.
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