The two places up for grabs in the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 in India have been filled by Bangladesh and Ireland as they won the semi-finals of the qualifying tournament played at Thailand Cricket Ground in Bangkok on Thursday. Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by 31 runs and Ireland beat Scotland by nine wickets and they will meet in Saturday’s final.
Bangladesh were the first team to book their place in the World Twenty20 but the favourites were made to work hard by a spirited Zimbabwe side in the first semi-final at TCG. Bangladesh looked in trouble at 10 for three but Sharmin Akhter and Fargana Hoque shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 51 with Fargana making 43 from 43 balls as Bangladesh reached 89 for 5 in their 20 overs.
Bangladesh’s spinners have been formidable so far in the tournament and so it proved again in the semi-final as leg-spinner Rumana Ahmed recorded excellent figures of 4-2-8-4 and fellow spinners Fahim Khatun and Shaila Sharmin took two wickets apiece to bowl out Zimbabwe for 58 to seal victory by 31 runs.
Ireland became the second team to qualify by beating local rivals Scotland by nine wickets as they reached 79 for 1 in 11.3 overs thanks to an unbeaten 36 off 34 balls from Cecilia Joyce as she hit 4 fours and 1 six. Ireland had earlier restricted Scotland to 77 for 9 in their 20 overs as Lucy O’Reilly claimed 3 for 16.
There is also a Shield competition for the other four sides The first semi-final was a very exciting match as Papua New Guinea just defeated Netherlands by one wicket from the last ball of the game as they chased down Netherlands’ total of 105 for 4 by the narrowest possible margin. PNG lost their first four wickets for 17 but Pauke Siaka and Sibona Jimmy led the recovery and tail-enders Brenda Tau and Kari Seura saw their side home with a last-wicket stand of 17.
Papua New Guinea will face China in the Shield final after the Chinese beat hosts Thailand by five runs despite being bowled out themselves for just 82 thanks to six run outs. Thailand’s batting has not fired in this competition and it was the same again today as only one player reached double figures and Thailand finished on 77 for 8.
RESULTS – DAY FOUR
Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by 31 runs
Ireland beat Scotland by 9 wickets
Papua New Guinea beat Netherlands by 1 wicket
China beat Thailand by 5 runs