Bangladesh Near ICC Women's WC Spot with 34-Run Win Over Scotland

Bangladesh came close to qualify for the ICC Women's World Cup beating Scotland by 34 runs in their 3rd match of the six- nation ICC Women's World Cup Qualifiers at the flood light Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore Tuesday night.

This was the 3rd consecutive victory for Bangladesh in the ongoing Women's World Cup qualifiers after beating Thailand and Ireland and now they needed just a victory in their remaining two matches against West Indies and hosts Pakistan to assure their World Cup berth.

After the day's match, Bangladesh topped the six- team list securing full six points from straight three matches with comfortable net run rate of 1.494 while hosts Pakistan also bagged full six points from three matches and were in the 2nd slot with net run rate of 0.857

Bangladesh, which made a flying start crushing Thailand by a massive 178 runs in the first match featuring a lot of records last Thursday, were struggled hard in the l 2nd match last Sunday.

But, a sensible and career best batting in a disasterous position by player of the match Ritu Moni powered Bangladesh to beat Ireland by two wickets with eight balls remaining in the 2nd match last Sunday

In the remaining league basis matches of the ongoing meet, Bangladesh will play West Indies on April 17 and hosts Pakistan on April 19.

In the day's 3rd match, Bangladesh opened the innings first after winning the toss piled up a good total of 276 runs for 6 in quota 50 overs featuring three half centuries by captain Nigar Sultana Joty, opener Fargana Hoque and one down Sharmin Akhter, reports UNB.

Captain cum number four batter Nigar Sultana, who made her maiden and Bangladesh's quickest century against Thailand in the first match, today also scored the team highest not out 83 runs off just 59 balls, featuring eleven boundaries.

Sharmin Akhter and Fargana Hoque made 57 runs each playing 79 and 84 balls and hitting seven and six boundaries respectively.

Besides, lower order Fahima Khatun (26), opener Ishma Tanjim (14) and Ritu Moni (12) were the other Bangladesh batters reaching the double figures.

Kathryn Bryce took two wickets giving away 58 runs.

Chasing a target of 277 runs, the Scotish Women's scored 242 runs for 9 in stipulated 50 overs featuring 115 runs runs in the 8th wickets stand by Priyanaz and Rachel Slater.

Number eight batter Priyanaz Chatterji contributed 61 runs off 63 balls hitting seven fours while number nine Rachel Slater also scored 61 runs off 73 balls with five boundaries.

Besides, middle order batter cum wicket keeper Sarah Bryce made 58-ball 42 runs including three hits to the fence while Ailsa Lister and opener Pippa Sproul added 18 and 17 runs respectively.

Nahida Akhter took four wickets for 40 runs, Jannatul Ferdous grabbed two wickets for 43 runs while Marufa Akter and Rabeya Khan took one wicket each.

Earlier, Bangladesh women's made a very good practices too in Pakistan crushing hosts Pakistan Women's by a massive 167 runs in their second warm-up match after beating Scotland by five wickets in the first warm up match ahead of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers.