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SportsPosted at: Apr 18 2025 1:32PM


Pakistan into the World Cup, West Indies keep fighting

Lahore, Apr 18 (UNI) West Indies kept themselves in contention for an ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 spot with a win over Bangladesh, whereas Pakistan confirmed their place after overcoming Thailand.
Batting first in Lahore, Pakistan got off to a below-par start after top-order batters Shawaal Zulfiqar (6), Muneeba Ali (18), and Aliya Riaz (7) failed to make a significant impact at the start of the innings, leaving them tottering at 47/3 at the brink of the 20th over on Thursday.
Sidra Amin’s resilience joined hands with Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana’s intent, and the duo stitched together 97 runs after taking over from 85/4. Amin helped herself to a well-made 80 off 105, which included nine boundaries to get Pakistan back on their feet.
Skipper Sana also pitched in with a crucial unbeaten 62 off 59 - a knock that included six fours and a maximum - to get Pakistan past the 200-run mark.
Thipatcha Putthawong’s two-wicket haul, combined with a wicket apiece from Onnicha Kamchomphu and Phannita Maya meant that the hosts ended their innings at 205/6, leaving Thailand needing 206 to grab their first win of the Qualifier.
And despite an early stutter, the loss of Chanida Sutthiruang for just five runs, Thailand made a positive start in the chase, adding 44 runs in the first powerplay.
However, Fatima Sana got Nattaya Boochatham to edge one behind the wicket, while Nannapat Koncharoenkai was clean bowled by Rameen Shamim in a space of three deliveries. Pakistan
took control thereafter, and didn't allow any of the Thailand batters to settle by getting regular breakthroughs.
The Pakistan spinners took the lead, and were the pick of the bowling effort in the middle overs. Nashra Sandhu (3/19) and Shamim (3/18) shared six wickets between them
Resilient West Indies overcame Bangladesh by three wickets to keep their ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 dreams alive in a tight contest in Lahore.
Chasing 228 for a win, an unbeaten half-century from Chinelle Henry (51 not out) pulled off the job
for West Indies after Bangladesh looked all set to rack up their fourth-straight win and punch their ticket to the Women’s ICC event in India this year.
Opting to bat in Lahore, Bangladesh were dealt an early blow after Chinelle Henry struck to remove Sobhana Mostary, caught behind.
Sharmin Akhter and Fargana Hoque steadied the ship with a solid 118-run stand, before the latter was caught & bowled by Aaliyah Alleyne.
The pacer struck again two balls later with a peach of a delivery ripping through Sharmin Akhter’s stumps to put an end to her 79-ball 67-run knock. The right-hand batter’s knock included 10 fours
that kept the scorecard ticking for Bangladesh.
Akhter’s wicket sparked a flare and West Indies kept striking at regular intervals thereafter, with skipper Hayley Matthews (2-42) and Afy Fletcher (2-43) joining in with two wickets apiece.
Nahida Akter (25) and Rabeya Khan (23 not out) came up with useful runs towards the end with
a big final over that included four boundaries as Bangladesh ended their 50-over quota at 227/9. Aaliyah Alleyne was the star with the ball for the Windies, helping herself amass figures of 4-39
that dismantled the Bangladesh top-order.
Chasing 228 to stay alive in the Qualifier, West Indies started off well but quickly found themselves at 74/3 from 26/0, with Qiana Joseph (31), Shemaine Campbelle (24) and Zaida James (9) starting off well but unable find the rhythm to surge ahead, thanks to the Bangladesh spinners.
Skipper Hayley Matthews and Stafanie Taylor joined hands and the pair added up a resilient 66-run stand for the fourth wicket to bring the Windies back into the contest.
With Marufa Akhter striking big to dismiss both batters in consecutive overs, West Indies once again found themselves in troubled waters.
Chinellle Henry and Shabika Gajnabi (20) forged a strong 50-run partnership to put them back in the chase, before drama unfolded once again as Ritu Moni struck to get rid of the latter. However, Henry picked pace with her big hitting and finished off the job in resilient fashion with four overs to spare.
West Indies face Thailand next in their final Qualifying clash on April 19, whereas Bangladesh take on hosts Pakistan in their final game on the same day.
UNI BM
Tags: #Pakistan into the World Cup# West Indies keep fighting
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