ICC Cricket : Hosts of the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier 2011, Bangladesh, today
secured One-day International status for first time for its women's side
after Salma Khatun's side beat USA in a low-scoring fixture.Meanwhile, Ireland defeated fellow European qualifier and ODI side
Netherlands, to retain its ODI status - the result means that
Netherlands has lost its ODI status for the women's side. Bangladesh and
Ireland will now face-off on Saturday in the 5th/6th play-off for the
tournament at BKSP* 2.In order for all the ODI-qualified sides to maintain its statuses it
must play three ODIs and three T20Is in any 12 month period and the
statuses will be reviewed at the next ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier
ahead of the ICC Women's World Cup 2017.In the semi-final fixtures between the ICC Women's World Cup qualified
sides - Pakistan defeated South Africa to secure a place in the final
which will be played on Saturday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket
Stadium (SBNCS).Facing Pakistan will be Merissa' Aguilleira's West Indies after the
Americas side beat Sri Lanka in a high-scoring showdown at Khanshaheb
Osman Ali Stadium by 58 runs.Sri Lanka will now play South Africa in the 3rd/4th play-off at KSOAS on Saturday.USA and Netherlands will now play each other on Saturday in the 7th/8th play-off at BKSP 3.At the most anticipated match of the day for the hosts, Bangladesh won
the toss and Salma made the decision to send the USA into bat - a
decision that paid off for the home side.Salma's bowlers proved difficult to score runs off. Doris Francis led
from the front for the Americans, top scoring for the team with 23 runs,
but the rest of the team struggled to make runs.In-form batter Shebani Bhaskar took 51 balls to make just 13 runs before
she departed after being caught and bowled by Suktara Rahaman. Things
didn't get much better for USA with Khadiza-Tul Kubra showing her great
worth as a spin bowler - the 16-year-old claiming 4-20 in her allotted
10 overs.Kubra dismissed three of the USA's key middle-order batters, Durga Das,
Nadia Gruny and Erica Rendler - tempting two of the three into striking
the ball into the safe hands of Panna Ghosh and Suktara.Bangladesh's bowling once again proved the winner with the entire USA
line-up being bowled out for just 78, but not before Francis' side had
played some 47 overs.In response, Bangladesh lost a wicket early on after Ayesha Akhter was
dismissed for just nine runs, the 27-year-old being declared leg-before
off the bowling of Triholder Marshall. It was then up to Suktara and
Fargana Pinky to secure another win for Bangladesh, in addition to a
place in the fifth/sixth play-off and the ODI status for the first-ever
time.A delighted Bangladesh captain, Salma said: "It feels fantastic to have
gained ODI status and it means a lot for Bangladesh women's cricket,
things can only get better from here."It was very much a team effort and hopefully we can continue this
momentum and beat Ireland on Saturday in our first ODI and finish ninth
in the global rankings.Salma's team coach, Mamatha Maben reiterated the team delight at gaining
ODI status, "This is the culmination of three months of hard work with
the women's side and it has paid off with us gaining ODI status for the
country."There is now a minimum amount of cricket the team will have to play,
which is great news for the women playing cricket here. I'm sure the BCB
will continue its support of the women's game and things can only get
better from here. I am very proud of how the whole side has played over
the last few weeks and hopefully we can continue on this path and beat
Ireland on Saturday," said Mamatha Maben, the Bangladesh coach.In the major European clash of the day at BKSP 3, Helmien Rambaldo's
side took on old foes Ireland led by Isobel Joyce which would ultimately
see one team walk away without its ODI status.Having won the toss, Rambaldo elected to bat first and the Dutch side
managed to amass 139 in its 50 overs during an average bowling
performance from the Irish side. Joyce's side gave away some 25 extras
but also failed to bowl in the right areas to dismiss the Dutch for less
in the first innings.Eimear Richardson claimed two wickets, but the 25-year-old gave away
some 34 runs in the process, the most economical of the Irish bowlers
being the young Elena Tice who claimed 1-22 in her 10 overs. The Dutch
side never managed to get going and the innings never really took off.In response, Ireland's top order failed to fire, struggling against
Kerry-Anne Tomlinson and Leonie Bennett and also laboured in reaching
its target.That being said, Ireland still managed to finish proceedings off and
retain its ODI status midway through the 32nd over. The side will now
face Bangladesh in an ODI at BKSP 2 on Saturday.Joyce said: "Those were tough conditions today, the wicket got very slow
and The Netherlands were able to take advantage of that with their
slower bowlers. We aimed to retain ODI status today so I'm not too
disappointed with the team's performance. That being said, we will have
to improve if we are to beat Bangladesh and retain ninth place in the
global rankings on Saturday."In the semi-final play-off at SBNCS, Pakistan created an upset, beating
pre-tournament favourites South Africa. Having come into the tournament
ranked fifth in the world, the South Africans are certain to drop down
the global rankings after eighth placed Pakistan defeated the side by
three wickets.South Africa put on one of its weakest performances in the field so far
in the tournament, posting just 180 in its 50 overs, captain Mignon du
Preez providing the most runs for the side. Asmavia Iqbal proved the
pick of the Pakistani bowling attack as the fast bowler from Multan
claimed three wickets for just 15 runs.Asmavia's run with the ball saw the 23-year-old dismiss opener Shandre
Fritz, Kirstie Thomson and Sunette Loubser, while Pakistan showed its
pace in the field as it ran out three of the South African middle-order.In reply, Pakistan played a patient innings to reach its target of 181,
despite losing both Sana Mir and Nida Dar for ducks, the side ensured
partnerships were made and Javeria Wadood's healthy contribution of 47
had the side well on its way to defeating Du Preez's team.Fittingly it was up to Asmavia, alongside Marina Iqbal to score the
winning runs for Pakistan and secure it a place in the final of the ICC
Women's World Cup Qualifier. Win or lose, Pakistan are guaranteed a rise
up the Reliance ICC Women's ODI Team Rankings at the conclusion of the
tournament. Currently ranked eighth in the world, Sana's team can rise
to either fifth or sixth in the global rankings.In the other semi-final, at Khanshaheb Osman Ali Stadium (KSOAS), West
Indies took on Sri Lanka for a place in the final of the ICC Women's
World Cup Qualifier.West Indies took its time to get into the swing of things with the bat
after winning the toss and electing to bat and it was a day for Stafanie
Taylor, captain Merissa Aguilleira and top-scorer Deandra Dottin.Taylor took to the crease with her usual calm demeanour and to set the
Americas side on its way to an impressive total of 235 for five in its
50 overs. Taylor provided early runs, but it was Dottin who put in the
performance of the innings, the petite Barbadian hitting 73. Dottin has
seen a return to form in this event after a dip in her batting prowess
since she scored her maiden T20I century back in 2010 at the ICC Women's
World Twenty20 in St Kitts.Aguilleira came down the order today but the batter from Trinidad didn't
let that stop her scoring runs, finishing the innings at 52 not out.In reply, Sri Lanka's batters were always going to find it a tough task
to chase down a high score and despite a valiant effort by opener
Chamani Atthappathu of 47, the rest of the side failed to spark. Anisa
Mohammed's off-spin proved key once again for the West Indies bowling
attack, Mohammed claimed 3-29 and the important run-out of opener
Yashoda Mendis. West Indies' unbeaten run in the tournament continued as Mohammed
claimed the seventh wicket, top order batter Inoka Galagedara who came
in down the order today and some tight bowling and fielding from the
athletic side ensured that by the time the 50th over arrived Sri Lanka
were still 58 runs short of the target, despite having wickets in hand.The victory will see West Indies play Pakistan on Saturday in the
1st/2nd play-off, as previously stated, the victor of the match will
claim fifth place in the Reliance ICC Women's ODI Team Rankings which is
currently topped by England.Tomorrow is a rest day, with the final matches being played on Saturday, fixtures are listed below.
Upcoming fixtures:26 November
ODI - Pakistan v West Indies – 1st/2nd play-off - SBNCS
ODI – South Africa v Sri Lanka – 3rd/4th play-off – KSOAS
ODI – Bangladesh v Ireland – 5th/6th play-off – BKSP 2
50-over match – USA v Netherlands – 7th/8th play-off – BKSP 3
Scores in brief – Semi-finals day
At Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (ODI)
South Africa 180-9, 50 overs (Du Preez 41; Asmavia 3-15)
Pakistan 181-7, 47.5 overs (Javeria 47, Marina 28 not out, Asmavia 22 not out; Loubser 2-22)
Pakistan won by three wickets
Player of the Match: Asmavia Iqbal (Pak)
At Khanshaheb Osman Ali Stadium (ODI)
West Indies 235-5, 50 overs (Taylor 58, Dottin 73, Aguilleira 52 not out; Ranasinghe 2-31)
Sri Lanka 177-7, 50 overs (Attappathu 56; Mohammed 3-29)
West Indies won by 58 runs
Player of the Match: Deandra Dottin (WI)
At BKSP 2 – ODI status play-off
USA 78 all out, 47.3 overs (Francis 23; Kubra 4-20)
Bangladesh 79-1, 18.5 overs (Suktara 29, Pinky 27)
Bangladesh won by nine wickets
Player of the Match: Khadiza Tul Kubra (Bang)
At BKSP 3 (ODI)
Netherlands 139-9, 50 overs (Tomlinson 34; Richardson 2-34)
Ireland 140-6, 32.3 overs (Whelan 27, Richardson 22)
Ireland won by four wickets
Player of the Match: Eimear Richardson (Ire)
