Bangladesh qualified for the semi-finals of the 2016 ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifiers after thrashing Papua New Guinea by 41 runs in their third and final group-stage match at Asian Institute of Technology Ground in Bangkok, Thailand yesterday.
In the process, the Bangladesh women finished top of Group A with maximum six points, two ahead of Scotland and four more than their yesterday’s opponents. The hosts, meanwhile, concluded their campaign at the bottom with three losses in as many games.
Asked to bat first, the women in red and green did lose wickets at regular intervals but cameos from Farjana Haque, Nigar Sultana, Ritu Moni and captain Jahanara Alam ensured they would eventually reach the 100-run mark.
In reply, Papua New Guinea were never really in the running for victory as off-spinner and player of the match Khadija-tul Kubra and leg-spinner Rumana Ahmed worked their magic over the opposition. Seamers Jahanara and Lata Mondal were also among the wickets as Bangladesh confirmed a last-four date with Zimbabwe, who finished as the Group B runners-up, tomorrow.
A win against the Zimbabweans will ensure Bangladesh’s progression to the main event, scheduled to be hosted by India from March 11-April 3.