Women's World Cup Qualifier Bangladesh, 2011-Kubra spins out Irish

The Bangladesh women's cricket team lifts Khadiza Tul Kubra after she took six wickets in their win against Ireland in the ICC Women's World Cup qualifiers at the BKSP-3 ground in Savar yesterday.

Bangladesh crushed the experienced Ireland side by 95 runs yesterday to strengthen their position in the ICC Women's World Cup qualifiers.

After their best batting display in the competition, the women's national team routed the Irish through an inspired spell of bowling from youngster Khadiza Tul Kubra who took six wickets and was predictably adjudged the player-of-the-match.

The win all but ensured their place as the third-best side in Group B, but contrary to what the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has trotted out before this game or even before the tournament, the women's side hasn't confirmed the country's ODI status by beating Japan and Ireland.

ICC media and communications officer Lucy Benjamin informed that the Salma Khatun-led side would have to win their next round classification game on Tuesday (A2 vs B3) in Mirpur to confirm the status as well as a place in the Women's World Cup proper in 2013. If they don't beat A2 (Sri Lanka, in all likelihood), they have a second shot at ODI status next Thursday when they will face the fourth place team in Group B.

"There is a misunderstanding [regarding Bangladesh's ODI status]. The win today brightens their prospects to be B3, but they would have to win the game against A2 on Tuesday to confirm the status. If they lose the game on Tuesday, they will have to win the game on November 24 against A4 to get the status by being among the top six teams in this competition," explained Benjamin.

Bangladesh captain Salma said that the team was cleared of this confusion during the lunch break."We got to know about it during the innings break but still we were confident that we will win the match," she said.

"To be honest, we were a little disappointed when we knew about it but still we didn't lose hope rather we were eager to get the win," added Salma, who struck a superb 73 to give the Bangladesh innings solidity. She struck four boundaries in her 121-ball effort that saw her add 86 for the third wicket with Shukhtara Rahman (47) and 49 for the fourth with Lata Mandal (31).

“We had a good team spirit in the morning while we were batting. The top order couldn't manage to score big but I hope they will perform in the next match.

"In the last ten overs we had wickets intact for which we wanted to add some quick runs on board which created some confusion in running between the wickets. The run outs were unfortunate,” said Salma; five of the seven wickets to fall were run-out victims.

Later, it was Kubra who made all the difference as the off-spinner took six wickets for 32 runs to dismantle the Irish.Having already taken four wickets in the first game against Pakistan, Kubra said there was hardly any pressure on her. "I had no pressure and only concentrated on my line and length. I might have walked out without any wicket today but I believed in myself and the teammates as we won the match," she said.

"I am always helped by my captain [Salma Khatun] whenever I need and today the whole team supported me," added Kubra.Bangladesh play their next game against West Indies on Sunday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

BRIEF SCORES
BANGLADESH: 209-7 in 50 overs (Salma 73, Shukhtara 47; Kenealy 2-46).

IRELAND: 114 all out in 36.5 overs (Joyce 44; Kubra 6-32).

Result: Bangladesh won by 95 runs.