Bangladesh's World Cup hopes at risk after 3-wicket defeat to West Indies
Having won their first three matches, a single victory would have secured their spot in the World Cup, but despite a valiant effort, they fell short in this crucial encounter.
Bangladesh's World Cup qualification hopes are now in a precarious position after a 3-wicket defeat to West Indies in the World Cup Qualifiers.
Having won their first three matches, a single victory would have secured their spot in the World Cup, but despite a valiant effort, they fell short in this crucial encounter.
Batting first at the City Cricket Association ground in Lahore, Bangladesh posted a total of 227 runs. While they made a strong start, the middle order struggled to capitalise on the solid foundation laid by openers Sharmin Akhter and Farzana Haque Pingki, who put together a crucial 118-run partnership. Farzana made 42 runs before being dismissed, while Sharmin contributed 67 runs off 79 balls, including 10 fours.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
However, following their departure, the middle order crumbled. Captain Nigar Sultana Jyoti was dismissed cheaply for just 5 runs, while Ritu Moni (15), Swarna Akter (6), and Fahima Khatun (9) failed to make significant contributions. Bangladesh's lower order, led by Nahida Akter (25) and Rabea Khan (23*), managed to push the total to 227/9.
West Indies' chase started off rocky, with regular wickets falling. At 74 runs, they had lost 3 wickets, and at 197, they were 6 wickets down. This raised doubts about their ability to chase the target. However, Chinelle Henry's composed 51* off 48 balls guided the Caribbean side to victory with 4 overs to spare.
For Bangladesh, Marufa Akter claimed 2 wickets, while Jannatul Ferdous Sumona, Nahida Akter, Rabea Khan, Fahima Khatun, and Ritu Moni each took one wicket. The loss has left Bangladesh's World Cup qualification hanging by a thread, with their fate now dependent on the result of their next match against Pakistan.
Bangladesh currently tops the points table in the six-team competition with three wins, but the final match of the group stage against hosts Pakistan is now crucial. If Bangladesh loses, their World Cup qualification will depend on the outcomes of other matches. If West Indies beats Thailand by a large margin and Scotland defeats Ireland, three teams will be tied with 6 points each. In this case, the top two teams will advance to the World Cup based on net run rate, where Bangladesh currently holds the advantage.
