Thailand will head to their first ever global event as they beat PNG by 8 wickets in Dundee to take one of two places at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Australia.
Bangladesh, ranked 9th in the MRF Tyres Women’s T20i Rankings, knocked out Ireland in a low-scoring thriller at Forthill as 85/10 played 86/6 to hand Bangladesh a four-wicket win and guarantee their place at the 10-team tournament that begins on 21st February in Sydney.
Read – Women’s T20 cricket to be included in the 2022 Commonwealth Games
Bangladesh vs. Ireland @ Forthill Cricket Club
Toss: Ireland won the toss and elected to bat
Forthill saw another close, low-scoring game as Bangladesh clinched a spot at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Australia by 4 wickets to send them to their fourth ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, to be held in Australia from February 2020.
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Ireland got off to a nightmare start as they lost their top three (Waldron 1; Lewis 5; Garth 2) with just 15 runs on the board in the first semi-final of the day.
A disciplined, all-round performance in the field saw only one extra given away as each bowler made a contribution – Fahima Khatun the standout with 3/18 – to ensure Ireland never recovered from their earlier woes.
Resistance from skipper Laura Delany (25) at number four and Eimear Richardson (25) at number seven held off the staunch Bangladesh bowling attack to climb Ireland up to 85/10 at the close of play, but it wouldn’t be enough for the girls in green who also looked to qualify for their fourth ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Chasing 86 for qualification, Forthill enjoyed another thrilling game as Bangladesh looked as though 86 might have been too much for the experienced Bangladeshi outfit at the halfway point.
Reduced to 34/4 after ten thanks to a great spell from Orla Prendergast (2/11), Ireland would have fancied their chances. However, Bangladesh went unblemished until the 17th over when Leah Paul (0/15) combining with Kavanagh to run out Ritu Moni for 15 but it was too late, Bangladesh then requiring 15 runs from 18 deliveries.
Back to back fours from Sanjida Islam (35*) in the 18th all but secured the victory as Bangladesh went into the penultimate over requiring just six runs. A four off the first ball from Jahanara Alam (6*) followed by two singles took Bangladesh to victory and a spot at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Salma Khatun, Bangladesh captain, said: “We are very happy to be heading to Australia for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in February. Being at the world stage helps us grow the women’s game back home in Bangladesh. We hope they can watch and be inspired to play.”
Read More – ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 Fixtures – Sri Lanka Women placed in Group A
Thailand vs. PNG @ Forthill Cricket Club
Toss: PNG won the toss and elected to bat first
Thailand have made history and qualified for their first ever major event with a commanding 8-wicket win over PNG in Dundee to join Bangladesh on the plane to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Australia.
Papua New Guinea, who beat Scotland and USA in the tournament to progress to the semi-final against Thailand, could only accumulate 67 runs as they won the toss and opted to bat first in attempt at putting runs on the board on a slow wicket at Forthill.
Thailand’s Sutthiruang (2/15) was again in with the wickets, removing Vare at the top of the order for 13 and returning to remove captain Oa for 5 in the last over of the game, as PNG struggled to find their rhythm from the offset, their highest partnership worth just 16 runs in a high-pressure game.
Thailand, chasing 68, opted for a calm and controlled approach as openers Chantam (18 off 31) and Chaiwai (32 off 40) took their time to pick off the runs required, striking just five boundaries in their innings to set the team up for a match-winning and World Cup-promising pursuit.
With both openers dismissed by the end of the 16th over, Koncharoenkai (16*) and Boochatham (2*) finished off the job to take an 8-wicket victory for Thailand and guarantee their place at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Sornnarin Tippoch, Thailand captain, said: “We are extremely excited and emotionally overwhelmed by what the team have achieved. We’re going to Australia!”
Scores in brief:
Bangladesh beat Ireland by 4 wickets at Forthill Sports Club
Ireland 85/10, 20 overs (EAJ Richardson 25, L Delany 25; F Khatun 3/18)
Bangladesh 86/6, 20 overs (S Islam 32, R Moni 15; O Prendergast 2/11)
Thailand beat PNG by 8 wickets at Forthill Sports Club
PNG 67/7, 20 overs (K Arua 16*, S Jimmy 13; C Sutthiruang 2/15)
Thailand 68/2, 17.3 overs (N Chaiwai 32, N Chantam 18; R Oa 1/7)
>> More Women’s Cricket News <<
