Sri Lanka, Pakistan qualify
Sri Lanka, who beat Bangladesh by six wickets yesterday, joined Pakistan, South Africa and West Indies as the teams to qualify to the ICC Women’s World Cup 2013.
Pakistan defeated the Netherlands by a whopping 193 runs at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium while in the 9th/10th place play-off, Japan defeated Zimbabwe by six runs, securing the Japanese their only win in the competition and avoided the wooden spoon.
Despite their losses, the home side and the Dutch have the opportunity to claim the ODI status; Bangladesh taking on the USA and the Netherlands facing Ireland on November 24.
BANGLADESH-SRI LANKA
In a game that had the potential to send Bangladesh to the Women’s World Cup, the inexperienced side fluffed up the opportunity after deciding to bat first.
After three early wickets, skipper Salma Khatun remained the only performer as she added 23 for the fourth wicket with Lata Mandal. Salma’s 76-ball 32 ended when she gave Suwini de Alwis her wicket in the 31st over.
The home side were wrapped up for exactly one-hundred runs in 47 overs, to which the Lankans replied with aplomb.
Inoka Galagadera and Yasoda Mendis struck a flurry of boundaries before Chamari Atapattu struck 26 off 57 balls with four boundaries to help her side closer to the small target.
Salma, who also starred with the ball taking two wickets and picked up the player-of-the-match award, said that the batswomen couldn’t put together partnerships and hence, struggled.
“Actually after winning the toss the game plan was to score over 200 and then maybe we could have put up a better fight,” she said after the game.
“Our top order struggled today, plus we could not build any partnerships so that was a problem but I still think our approach to batting was the right one nonetheless,” added Salma.
PAKISTAN-THE NETHERLANDS
Javeria Khan and Bismah Maroof struck half-centuries as Pakistan made a formidable 277-4 in their 50 overs.
The Dutch fell well short, being bowled out for just 84 runs in 37 overs with Bismah and Nida Dar taking three wickets each.
JAPAN-ZIMBABWE
In a perfect ending for the Japanese ladies, Ema Kuribayashi’s 47 and 38 by Mariko Yamamoto gave them 152 runs to defend at the BKSP-2 ground.
The southern African side fell six runs short as they were restricted to 146-8 in their 50 overs with Modester Mupachikwa making 32 and Sinikiwe Mpofu contributing 16 to the total.
SCORES IN BRIEF
BANGLADESH: 100 all out in 47 overs (Salma 32, Rumana 17; Siriwardene 2-23).
SRI LANKA: 101-4 in 26.3 overs (Atapattu 26, Siriwardene 22 not out; Salma 2-26).
Result: Sri Lanka won by six wickets.
PAKISTAN: 277-4 in 50 overs (Javeria 67, Bismah 66 not out; Lanser 2-49).
THE NETHERLANDS: 84 all out in 37 overs (Tomlinson 22, Hannema 16; Bismah 3-13, Nida 3-15).
Result: Pakistan won by 193 runs.
JAPAN: 152 all out in 49.5 overs (Kuribayashi 47, Yamamoto 38; Charumbira 2-10, Mayers 2-26).
ZIMBABWE: 146-8 in 50 overs (Mupachikwa 32, Mpofu 16; Nakayama 1-15).
Result: Japan won by six runs.
-With The Daily Star input
