Bangladesh women鈥檚 cricket team missed out a great opportunity to seal direct qualification for the forthcoming ODI World Cup as they lost to the West Indies by eight wickets in their third and final ODI at the Warner Park in St Kitts on Friday.听
Going into the last match with the series being tied at 1-1, Bangladesh needed just to avoid a defeat to book their place in the World Cup, which will be held in India later this year.听
But Bangladesh fell short in their batting as they lost their last seven wickets for just 24 runs before getting all out for 118 in 43.5 overs.
The hosts then chased down the target in just 27.3 overs with eight wickets in hand.听
After the defeat, Bangladesh finished on 21 points in the Women鈥檚 Championship table to level with New Zealand. But New Zealand will be through alongside Australia, India, England, South Africa, and Sri Lanka by virtue of more wins.听
New Zealand won nine matches in this cycle opposed to Bangladesh鈥檚 eight.听
Bangladesh will now have to compete with the West Indies, Pakistan, Ireland, Scotland, and Thailand in a qualifier tournament. The top two teams will get the tickets for the main event.听
Opting to bat first, Bangladesh lost opener Murshida Khatun in the second over of the innings. Farzana Haque and Sharmin Akter then steadied the ship with a 62-run partnership for the second wicket.听
Farzana (22 off 65) and Sharmin (37 off 58) fell in quick succession. Captain Nigar Sultana Joty and Sobhana Mostary tried to rebuild the innings.听
But Joty, who was the star of the win in the previous match, fell for 11 off 29 balls, which led to a dramatic collapse down the order as they were bundled out for a well-below-par total.听
Mostary made 25 off 62 balls, but none could give her company.听
Bangladesh defended 184 runs in the second match, but the bowlers couldn鈥檛 repeat such a feat in the series decider.听
A 45-run opening partnership between Hayley Mathews (22 off 33) and Qiana Joseph (39 off 66) laid the perfect foundation for the Caribbean.听
Joseph fell after adding a further 28 runs with Shemaine Campbelle, but Diandra Dotting came with all guns blazing in her unbeaten knock of 33 runs from just 19 balls to get the West Indies home.听
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