Bangladesh women failed to grab a record back to back win in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup when they suffered a fighting four runs defeat at the hands of West Indies on Friday at the Mount Maunganui, New Zealand.
In fact, West Indian spinners duo Afy Fletcher and Hayley Matthews shattered the Bangladesh high hopes destroying their batting line up with taking seven wickets, as despite going very closer to the winning target the Tigress were all out when they needed only five runs from last four deliveries.
However, Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana choose to field first after winning the toss and looked the decision was very right when they bundled out their West Indian counterparts on 140 runs but later on lack of any wide-ranging partnership they were deprived from the victory.
However, sending the West Indian women to bat first, Bangladesh bowlers started with sort of quality bowling display and after making the breakthrough on West Indian’s 29 run, did not allow any partnership to stand strongly, as they took the wickets at regular interval.
West Indies after having the opportunity to bat first had to struggle much to accumulate 140 runs on the score board, when apart from hard working Shemaine Campbelle’s unbeaten half-century, 53 off 107 balls, only 18 runs was the second highest of their innings by Hayley Matthews.
Bangladesh used seven bowlers, five of them shared seven wickets among them, though Fariha Trisna and Fariha Khatun did not get any wickets but were very economy to concede runs, as the West Indian women were booked on 140.
Chasing to a modest target of 140, Bangladesh, also saw an early setback losing Shamima Sultana for duck when team was only one run.
The batters, after getting rid of the early blow were on right track to win the match, despite losing wickets in regular interval, as at one stage Bangladesh were comfortably heading to winning ways placing at 60 for 2 in 21 overs and at that stage the target was just 81 from 29 overs with eight wickets in hands.
In fact the collapse of the middle order were major reason of Bangladesh’s defeat, when Rumana Ahmed and Ritu Moni left the crease for ducks in consecutive two balls and Fahima also followed them scoring no runs.
Above all, the legs pinner Fletcher trembled the Bangladesh innings by picking up three wickets in a quick succession in space of seven balls to damage Bangladesh’s middle order and then Hayley Matthews joined with Fletcher, taking her best 4 wickets for 15 to carve out a thrilling four runs win for West Indies.