Women's World Cup Qualifier Bangladesh, 2011 All hope not lost for hosts

West Indies batswoman Stefanie Taylor pulls on her way to scoring 62 against Bangladesh during their match of the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifiers at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.

West Indies became one of two teams to qualify to the ICC Women's World Cup to be held in India in 2013 after topping Group B in the qualifiers through their four wins on the trot. They booked their flight through an 80-run win over hosts Bangladesh yesterday in their last group game at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

It will be the fifth participation in the World Cup for West Indies after they made 217-8 in 50 overs and restricted Bangladesh to 137 all out in the 48th over.

But the loss isn't fatal for the Bangladesh women's team as they have another shot at the semifinal places through their next game, a playoff against Sri Lanka on Tuesday. If Salma Khatun's team, who have finished third in Group B, win that game, they will make their maiden World Cup appearance and if they lose, they will have the consolation of confirming their ODI status if they win the 5th/6th playoff game on Thursday.

The calculation made sure the inexperienced home side played with freedom in the first session, especially in front of a considerably good turnout at the Mirpur venue. After deciding to field first, they kept the West Indies scoring rate down despite an 84-run second wicket partnership between Stefanie Taylor (62) and Shanel Daley (61). Afterwards, the Bangladesh spinners got into the game with Khadiza Tul Kubra and Rumana Ahmed picking up two wickets each.

Bangladesh coach Mamatha Maben commented that such a large crowd is always encouraging for her charges who were slightly nervous earlier in the tournament but have now come to terms with the pressure.

"I have never seen such crowd in women's matches in India frankly. The girls are realising that if they can do their bit, the crowd is always there to support them. We need to work hard and enhance our skills so we keep pulling in the crowd more. That in itself has been a revelation for us," Maben said after the game.

"All the girls are aware that pressure comes with the package. Initially they were maybe a bit nervous but they're over it now. They are not too perturbed by the crowd," she added.

But the batting didn't please the former India cricketer. It wasn't particularly poor but the batting unit had assumed that 218 was a bridge too far and shut up shop before attempting the chase, although all of the top six made starts.

After Ayesha Akhtar and Shukhtara added 26 for the opening wicket, Farzana Haque and Salma, who made 23 off 56 balls, added 37 more but it took them almost 14.4 overs to do so. Despite Rumana Ahmed's unbeaten 28, the rest just folded as they had no sense of direction later in the innings.

"We need to develop 2-3 batsmen to give us fifties at the top. We are working on it, but now we are focusing on what we have and trying our best," said coach Maben, adding that she is taking heart from her team's recent performances against Sri Lanka ahead of their Tuesday encounter.

"It is a do-or-die game, that's our last hope. On a couple of occasions during the five-match series we came very close to beating them. If we can repeat those performances, we can beat them this time," she added.

Bangladesh will play Sri Lanka in a play-off game at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium tomorrow, to determine one of the semifinal spots, in other words a place in the World Cup.

SCORES IN BRIEF
WEST INDIES: 217-8 in 50 overs (Taylor 62, Daley 61; Kubra 2-39, Rumana 2-37).

BANGLADESH: 137 all out in 47.4 overs (Rumana 28, Salma 23; Quintyne 3-20).

Result: West Indies won by 80 runs.