The Bangladesh women's team's aspiration of direct qualification to the Women's World Cup received a setback when they suffered a crushing nine-wicket defeat to hosts West Indies in the three-match One Day International series-opener at Basseterre in Saint Kitts and Nevis Sunday.
For direct qualification to the world event, the Tigresses needed to win at least two out of three matches but the manner in which they succumbed to defeat against the Caribbean women's side raises questions whether they can put up fight in the next two games.
Asked to bat first, the visiting side were restricted to 198/9 in 50 overs, a total that the hosts chased down with incredible ease by reaching 202-1 in just 31.4 overs.
Captain Hayley Matthews was instrumental in the comprehensive victory with a superb all-round performance.
Opening the innings, she smashed 93-ball 104 not out, an innings laced with 16 boundaries, after taking 2/41.
She and her opening partner Qiana Joseph dented any hopes Bangladesh had of coming back to the game by putting on 163 runs for the opening stand.
Before being dismissed by Rabeya Khan, Joseph made 70 off 79 with half a dozen fours and four sixes.
Matthews and Shemaine Campbelle then guided the side home without any fuss with the latter remaining unbeaten on 14.
Earlier, top-order batter Murshida Khatun and Sharmin Akter Supta got starts but could not convert into big scores, ruining Bangladesh's hopes of posting a big total.
Sharmin top-scored for the side with 42 while Murshida made 40.
Sobhana Mostary was the other notable scorer with 35.
The rest of the batters crumbled under pressure, giving the Windies a target that they eventually turned into a cake-walk.
Deandra Dottin claimed 3/40 to slice through Bangladesh's batting order.
1ST ODI
Bangladesh women 198/9 (Sharmin 42, Dottin 3/40) lost to West Indies women 202/1 in 31.4 overs (Matthews 104*, Joseph 70) by 9 wickets
