ICC T20 Women's WCQ: Bangladesh beat USA by 22 runs

Sports Reporter :

The Bangladesh Women’s cricket team started their ICC T20 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers (WCQ) with a win.

They defeated USA by 21 runs at the Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground in Kathmandu, Nepal on Sunday.

USA elected to bowl first and managed to snap three wickets before the 10-overs mark, including the prized scalp of Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty, leaving the Tigers reeling at 66/3 after 9.1 overs.

Sharmin Akter Supta hammered a 39 ball-63 and Nahida Akter claimed 4-24 to
play a vital role in Bangladesh’s emphatic victory.

When opener Dilara Akhtar was dismissed for 17 runs off 8 balls, the team’s score was 26 in 3 overs. Sharmin Akhtar, who came in at number three, also played a stormy innings. Sharmin scored 63 runs off 39 balls with 8 fours and 1 six.

Sharmin Akhter’s fight knock, 63 off 39 deliveries, which earned her the Player of the Match honours, ensured Bangladesh posted an impressive 159/5 off their 20 overs.

Skipper Nigar Sultana Joty also failed to come with the terms, being out on just 2 before Sobhana Mostary provided Supta a valuable support with 29 ball-32.

Together they shared 63 runs for the fourth wicket to lay a platform of challenging total.
Mahi Madhaban was the most successful bowler for USA with 3-23 while Isani Vaghela took 2-27.

USA’s chase was dented by brilliant bowling from Bangladesh bowlers.Openers Disha Dhingra (23 off 22) and Chetna Pagydyala (36 off 31) put up strong early resistance, keeping USA on the track, while Ritu Singh’s smashing 33 off 13 down the order reinvigorated optimism.

But the Bangladesh bowling attack proved too much for the USA batters, nabbing consistent scalps in the second half of the innings. Nahida Akter was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with bowling figures of 4/24 from her four overs.

Ritu Moni played a second fiddle to her with 3-24 to further wreck havoc as USA managed to put up 137-9 in 20-over allocation before losing the game.

Bangladesh will take on Papua New Guinea, Namibia and Ireland tomorrow, 22 and 24 respectively in their next three matches of Group A.

The top three teams from Group A will advance to the Super Six stage, where they will face the top three sides from Group B.The Group B included hosts Nepal, Thailand, Zimbabwe, Netherlands and Scotland.

The top four teams from the Super Six will, qualify for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, be held in England and Wales in June-July this year.