Eimear Richardson helped Ireland to its first victory of the ICC Women's
World Cup Qualifiers 2011 in Dhaka today after the 25-year-old
all-rounder hit a half-century and claimed five wickets to steer the
team to 255-run victory over Japan at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket
Stadium, Mirpur.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka continued is run of wins comfortably beating
Zimbabwe by seven wickets while in the only ODI of the day, West Indies
beat Pakistan by eight wickets. Helmien Rambaldo's Dutch side bounced
back from its recent defeat to beat the USA at Khanshaheb Osman Ali
Stadium.
In Mirpur, watched by a crowd of 400 lively Bangladeshi supporters, it
was a day for run-making as Isobel Joyce's side batted first against
Japan after losing the toss. The crowd cheered every boundary hit and
every wicket taken as the Irish scored an impressive 311 in its 50
overs.
Isobel's twin, Cecelia, opened the batting alongside Clare Shillington
but after 25 runs Shillington departed after being clean bowled by
Kurumi Ota. It was then up to Cecelia alongside Jill Whelan to add runs
to the board, which the pair did, with Cecelia making 64 before she was
caught by Ayako Iwasaki.
Richardson put in an impressive performance with the bat to score her
half-century, the right-hander hit 57 runs in 45 balls, while the young
tail-enders, 14-year-old Elena Tice and 15-year-old Kim Garth, put on 17
runs for the last wicket to help the Irish to a hefty total and one the
Japanese were going to struggle to chase down.
As the Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh looked on alongside a small
group of Japanese local supporters, Mariko Yamamoto and Shizuka Kubota
took to the crease to face the strong Irish bowling attack which has
been coached ahead of this event by Ireland fast bowler Trent Johnston.
Richardson proved to be the pick of the attack, claiming her first
five-fer in the tournament in the process, undoing the Japanese batting
line-up with her off-spin. The Dubliner combined with Kim Garth and
captain Isobel Joyce to dismiss Ema Kuribayashi's side in just 23 overs.
Isobel admitted, despite the score, that the Japanese side had improved
since the team last faced it in 2003 in The Netherlands at the ICC
Women's World Cup Qualifier. "I think they have improved greatly in the
field and a couple of their fast bowlers and spinners are playing far
better than before and their wicketkeeper was excellent.
"It was a good toss to lose this morning as we wanted to have a bat and
it was important we got some runs on the board as we haven't in our last
couple of matches, but we did think the ball would move around early
on.
"It was good to see Eimear, Cecelia and Jill (Whelan) all contribute and
help us to post a big score. And then for our bowlers to perform so
well was satisfying. It also puts us in good stead ahead of our
important match tomorrow against hosts Bangladesh," said Isobel.
In a match that was being watched by 2.3 million Bangladeshis as it was
broadcast on local television, Richardson admitted the game plan had
worked out for the side: "We had a good game plan, which we stuck to
which in previous games we had not done so well. It was important for
the batters to make runs which we did and it was great to take five-fer
in the Japanese innings.
"I think perhaps the Japanese were a little inexperienced on how to
combat the spin, especially here where there is lots of turn and bounce
which can make it hard to read."
Japan coach Chris Ferguson was disappointed with the side's performance
but admitted the team were still learning about playing on the big
stage: "I think we have to look positively at how the side fought back
when it looked like the Irish were on their way to 340 and we took three
wickets in I think roughly one and half overs.
"I know the side aren't showing their true potential which they and I
know they have to play this game. They are a side that is still learning
and they take each of these games as a chance to take new points on
board and improve."
At the only ODI of the day, Pakistan took on West Indies at BKSP 3, with
Sana Mir winning the toss and electing to bat against Merissa
Aguilleira's side. The Pakistani batting attack struggled against a fine
performance of spin bowling from West Indies vice-captain Anisa
Mohammed who, like Richardson in the Ireland game, walked away with five
wickets.
Pakistan's opener, Sana, along with Nain Abidi, proved to be the only
batters of note in the side, with the former scoring 49 while the latter
managed 53 against one of the most favoured teams in the tournament.
It was then up to the inform all-rounder Stafanie Taylor to open the
batting in reply for the West Indians, and despite her losing her
opening partner, Juliana Nero, for five, and then Shanel Daley shortly
after, the ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year 2011 stuck out the innings
alongside Barbadian Deandra Dottin.
Dottin is perhaps best known for her quick fire century at the ICC
Women's World Twenty20 2010 in St Kitts, but this time round the
20-year-old struck a patient innings of 60 in 97 balls to help the West
Indies to another win in the event.
On the opposite ground at the Bangladesh Institute of Sport, Zimbabwe
faced an inform Sri Lanka and it was a day for five wicket hauls, this
time with Sri Lanka's Chamani Seneviratna claiming five wickets off the
African side after the batters this time failed against the pace of the
ball.
The 33-year-old dismissed both openers, Ashley Ndirya and Sinikwe Mpofu
and then fourth batter Julia Chibahba to have the Zimbabweans reeling on
three wickets for just six runs by the fifth over. Sri Lanka's bowling
continues to be tight with the side bowling just eight wides and the
attack preventing the Zimbabweans from scoring runs, which meant that
once Seneviratna had worked her magic the team were 62 all out in 42
overs.
In response, Sri Lanka's top order didn't quite live up to the mark,
with only Yashoda Mendis proving her worth finishing the day 35 not out,
while her fellow three top-order batters departed to Sharyce Saili
medium pace bowling. The Zimbabwean tempted Chamari Athappathua and
Shashikala Siriwardene to edge the ball and to be caught while Inoka
Galagedara had her stumps flattened. Mendis, alongside Sandamali
Dolawatter steered the island to victory in the 10th over.
At the other stadium, Khanshaheb Osman Ali, Netherlands were keen to
ensure they did not put in another poor batting performance and
Rambaldo's side certainly made runs today, scoring 329 in its 50 overs.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Miranda Veringmeier, alongside Kerry-Anne Tomlinson
proved to be the stars for the ladies in orange, with the duo making 99
and 80 respectively.
Claudine Beckford and Samantha Ramautar managed two wickets each but the
side were punished by strong batting from the Dutch top order.
Veringmeier proved a worthy Player of the Match after the 19-year-old
from Schiedam claimed a run out and a stumping in the USA's reply
innings. The Americans struggled against the two off-spinners of the
Dutch side, Esther de Lange and Esther Lanser, the duo combining to
dismiss six of the side, while Tomlinson's medium pace helped both at
the beginning and end of the innings.
Tomorrow will see Zimbabwe take on USA at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket
Stadium, Japan play West Indies at Khanshaheb Osman Ali Stadium,
Netherlands play South Africa in the only ODI of the day at BKSP 2 and
hosts Bangladesh face Ireland at BKSP 3.
Scores in brief - Day Three
At Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium
Ireland 311-9, 50 overs (Richardson 57, C Joyce 64, Whelan 49)
Japan 56 all out 23.2 overs (Richardson 5-4)
Ireland won by 255 runs
Player of the Match: Eimear Richardson (Ire)
At Khanshaheb Osman Ali Stadium
Netherlands 329-5, 50 overs (Veringmeier 99, Tomlinson 80, Lanser 51, Rambaldo 41)
USA 104 all out, 49.5 overs (De Lange 3-8, Lanser 3-11, Tomlinson 3-21)
Netherlands won by 225 runs
Player of the Match: Miranda Veringmeier (NL)
At BKSP 2 (ODI)
Pakistan 140 all out, 49.2 (Sana 49, Nain 53; Mohammed 5-26)
West Indies 142-2, 34.5 overs (Taylor 66 not out, Dottin 60 not out)
West Indies won by eight wickets
Player of the Match: Anisa Mohammed (WI)
At BKSP 3
Zimbabwe 62 all out, 41.4 overs (Nyathi 18; Seneviratna 5-15, Ravikumar 3-17)
Sri Lanka 63-3, 10.5 (Mendis 35 not out; Saili 3-19)
Sri Lanka won by seven wickets
Player of the Match: Chamani Seneviratna (SL)
