West Indies women took a big step towards earning a place in the semifinals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, in the process all but eliminating their opponents, Bangladesh.
The Maroon Warriors got an eight-wicket win over the Tigresses on Thursday at the Sharjah International Stadium in the United Arab Emirates.
West Indies have made one change with Mandy Mangru coming in for Chenead Nation.
West Indies won the toss, and put Bangladesh in to bat, as they had done in their big win over Scotland earlier in the week.
On a green patch with low bounce, Windies captain Hayley Matthews opted to serve up variable pace, with herself bowling right-arm off breaks, Chinelle Henry’s right arm medium pace, Qiana Joseph’s left arm orthodox.
It was Karishma Ramharack, though, who would make the initial breakthroughs. The 29-year-old Trinidad & Tobago spinner captured wickets in the fourth and sixth overs, including one with her very first ball, leaving Bangladesh 33-2 after six overs, and her personal tally 2-10.
Notwithstanding an expensive eighth over from Afy Fletcher, who conceded 14 runs, the Tigresses had done little to move the run rate at the halfway stage. They were 58-2 after 10, with Nigar Sultana 19 and Sobhana Mostary 11.
Ramharack’s return in the 13th over did for Mostary, who was stumped for 16 off 22 balls. Fletcher came back for a third over, in which she gave up just two runs, and grabbed two wickets. Ramharack concluded her masterclass with a fourth wicket, this one in the penultimate over, to end on 4-17.
At the beginning of that over, however, Stafanie Taylor limped off the field, causing further concern for the West Indies, already without Zaida James through injury. Taylor had been complaining of pain in her leg from last week.
Two wickets in the last over from Matthews left Bangladesh 103-8, Sultana top-scoring with 39, one of only four players to get into double figures. The Tigresses hit just nine boundaries in their innings, and the Maroon Warriors were left 104 to chase.
Taylor came out to partner Matthews at the top of the innings, and the captain’s intent was obvious from the get-go. After two poor matches to open the campaign, she laid into the Bangladeshi bowlers. By the end of the sixth over, she had made 33 off 18 balls, with six fours, whilst Taylor was on 14 with two boundaries. The 50 came up in the seventh over.
The skipper, though, would add just one more run before her dismissal in the eighth over. With Taylor laboured in her running between the wickets, the regional team needed a further spark. Taylor retired on 27, with West Indies 73-1 at the half.
That brought Deandra Dottin to join Shemaine Campbelle, but Campbelle would go for 21 off 16 balls in the 12th over.
The match would last just nine deliveries thereafter, however. Dottin made sure of that, as she reverse swept for four, then clobbered two huge sixes to end on 19 off just seven, sealing the win for the Maroon Warriors.
With the win, the West Indies returned to the top of the group, with the small matter of a game against tournament favourites England still to come. West Indies, England, and South Africa are all on two points, but England have played just two matches.
“We spoke about being really disciplined with the ball and I think it was great execution in getting them to hit where we wanted them to,” explained Matthews. “And then with the bat, the intent, we were able to take that through the innings. It was definitely a help in going into the last match with a healthy net run rate.”
Speaking to the performance of Ramharack, the captain was effusive in her praise. “She was so good at executing and bowling to her field the entire time,” she noted. “We know she’s one of our more experienced bowlers coming into the tournament, so it was good to see her get her rewards.”
“Of course it’s always good to contribute to the team,” said Ramharack on her own behalf. “I’m just really happy I was able to do that today. It was quite slow early on and I felt like you had to vary your pace as much as possible.
“We knew that they have a couple of batters who could hit the ball really well, we just had to stay patient and the wickets would come when we stay patient.”
Ramharack asserted that the team was very happy with the way they went about the chase. England face Scotland and South Africa take on Bangladesh before the West Indies and England close out Group B next Tuesday. A lot can change over the weekend, but Matthews feels that her team is ready for whatever may come.
“Luckily we’ve got the last game of the group and more than likely we’re going to have to win the game,” she conceded. “But it’s a World Cup and if you want to be competing and winning World Cups, you’re going to have to beat the best teams in the World. We’re up for the challenge.”
The West Indies are hopeful that Taylor will be able to play a role in that final group match, with Matthews calling the former captain “a fighter.”
Bangladesh remain mathematically alive for a berth in the semis, but they will need to beat South Africa on the weekend if they are to play any further role in the tournament.
A win for Bangladesh would also have the effect of reducing the pressure on West Indies going into their final match.
PHOTO: Deandra Dottin on the attack.
