West Indies women kept their spirits up to secure a thrilling victory in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2022.
West Indies bowlers Hayley Matthews and Effie Fletcher produced fine spells as the team managed to defend a small total and score full points in their ICC Women’s World Cup match against Bangladesh at the Bay Oval here on Friday.
Defending 140/9, the Stephanie Taylor-led West Indies made a gritty World Cup start to 136 runs in a thriller with just three balls to spare.
West Indies have moved up to third on the table with six points from three wins from five, while Bangladesh are seventh with two points from four matches.
In the end, it came down to the final six balls at Tauranga, with veteran West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor (3/29) bowling Nahida Akhtar (25 not out) and eight runs to win Bangladesh still with just one wicket. were needed. ,
Taylor once again bowled the ball for his country when needed as Fariha Trisna fell for a duck in the third ball of the over to give West Indies a narrow win.
It was a stellar performance with the delivery of spinners Hayley Matthews (4/14) and Effie Fletcher (3/29) to do most of the damage for West Indies, while wicketkeeper Shemaine Campbell (53 not out) also did well to help. Speed up a batting innings that failed to reach any great heights.
Bangladesh spinners Salma Khatoon (2/23) and Akhtar (2/23) can keep their heads high, with skipper Nigar Sultana (25) emerging as equal top scorers in a disappointing batting performance by the sub-continental side.
It was a case in point for what could have happened to the gritty Bangladesh side, who failed to capitalize on an excellent effort with the ball and in the field, as they grabbed hold of the West Indies’ strong batting line-up.
Campbell’s half-century was the only highlight with the bat for the winners, with Deandra Dottin (17), Matthews (18) and Taylor (4) all falling cheaply.
West Indies needed to take early wickets in response to any chance and Mathews stepped in when she chased down Shamima Sultana lbw for a duck in the opening over.
Fergana Hoque (23) and Sultana looked confident at the crease as they took the score to 60/2, but Fletcher’s three wickets during the middle overs turned the game on its head as the score quickly turned 60/5 .
Mathews came back to pick up two more wickets – including a scalp from Sultana – before Taylor came on to seal the result with a cargo in the final over.
Brief Scores: West Indies beat Bangladesh 136 in 49.3 overs by 140/9 in 50 overs (Shemen Campbell 53 not out; Salma Khatoon 2/23, Nahida Akhtar 2/23) (Nigar Sultana 25; Nahida Actor 25 not out; Hayley Mathews 4/). 15, Effie Fletcher 3/29, Stephanie Taylor 3/29 by four runs.