Bangladesh nearly won its second game of the 2022 Women’s World Cup days after its historic win over Pakistan, but the girls of Nigar Sultana fell short of the target of 141 runs by 5 runs in a thrilling finish at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Friday.
Bangladesh made a great effort to limit West Indies to 140 after half a century of patience gathered from Shemaine Campbelle behind Hayley Matthews and Afy Fletcher 7 wickets between them to help West Indies successfully defend 140.
West Indies have edged India to 3rd in the 8-team points table with 6 points from 5 games, 2 points behind leaders South Africa and Australia who have won all of their 4 games so far.
It took Bangladesh 8 runs to win from the last over with 1 wicket in hand as the World Cup game went down the drain.
West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor took charge of bowling the final over, knocking over the stumps of No. 11 Fariha Trisna on the third ball to earn her side’s victory as Bangladesh went out with 136.
No team has defended a total of 140 or fewer in a one-day women’s international in the last five years. Last to do so was the West Indies, and they made it again despite a failed field performance that saw multiple catches dropped.
Off spinner Hayley Matthews won 4-15 from 10 overs and was player of the match. The game had gone in Bangladesh’s favor until Matthews sent off Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana with 25 and Fahima Khatun within three balls in the 33rd over.
Leg spinner Afy Fletcher had previously taken three wickets, with the total stuck at 60, as Bangladesh slipped from 60-2 to 60-5, ensuring the match would be close.
Karishma Ramharack also contributed with her challenging off-spin, bowling her 10 overs for 15 runs. Ramharack allowed just one shot on goal from their first four overs, a single one.
CAMPBELLE’S PATIENCE PAYS OFF
Bangladesh’s bowling was just as restrictive. Spinners Salma Khatun, Nahdia Akhter and Rumana Ahmed gave away runs with great reluctance.
The West Indies managed just 12 runs and lost two wickets between the 15th and 30th and Campbelle needed to manage that time to steer her team to a modest but reasonable total.
Campbelle only managed 1 run from her first 25 deliveries. When she hit a four from Rumana in the 34th over, it was the first limit the West Indies had hit in 21 overs. Up until that shot, she had only made eight runs of 57 balls.
“I think it was a very close game and the start from our bowlers was amazing,” Bangladesh captain Joty said. “I’m pretty disappointed with our batting. There was a lack of development partnerships.”
SHORT RESULTS
West Indies 140/9 in 50 overs (Campbelle 53; Khatun 2/23, Nahida 2/23) beat Bangladesh 136-all-out in 49.3 overs (Nahida 25, Matthews 4/15) with 4 runs. (With AP inputs)
