In a dramatic flip of occasions at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, the West Indies cricket crew noticed their hopes of qualifying for the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 shattered by a margin as minuscule as 0.01 on the web run-rate scale. Regardless of securing a high-octane win in opposition to Thailand, Hayley Matthews’ facet was left devastated as Bangladesh edged forward on web run-rate (NRR) to clinch the ultimate qualifying spot. West Indies and Bangladesh each completed with six factors, however Bangladesh‘s NRR of 0.639 narrowly eclipsed West Indies’ 0.626, marking the tip of a 25-year streak throughout which West Indies had participated in each World Cup since 2000.
West Indies’ blistering chase in opposition to Thailand couldn’t outpace the clock
Set a frightening process of chasing down 167 runs in simply 10 overs to leapfrog Bangladesh’s web run-rate, West Indies responded with firepower and intent. Captain Matthews led from the entrance with a sensational innings, smashing 70 off simply 29 deliveries. She introduced up her half-century in solely 21 balls, turning into the second-fastest to succeed in the milestone in girls’s ODI historical past. With help from Qiana Joseph (26 off 12) and Chinelle Henry (a whirlwind 20-run burst), West Indies roared to 156 for 3 in 10 overs, the highest-ever 10-over rating within the format’s historical past. Regardless of needing solely 11 extra runs from that time to qualify, the crowning glory got here only a few balls too late. A six from Stafanie Taylor finally sealed a six-wicket win, however the West Indies had fallen agonizingly wanting the qualification goal by the slimmest margin conceivable.
Because the eleventh over started, West Indies wanted not simply victory, however an accelerated end to surpass Bangladesh’s superior web run-rate. A single from the primary supply added to the strain, however then catastrophe struck once more Henry was run out, leaving the equation much more sophisticated. Aaliyah Alleyne, undeterred, hit a boundary off her very first ball and took a single subsequent, nudging West Indies to 162 after 10.4 overs. With the run-rate equations tightening, a 4 off the following ball would have leveled the scores and left the crew needing a six off the final supply to complete on 172, simply sufficient to eclipse Bangladesh’s NRR. However destiny had one final twist. Stafanie Taylor, going through the penultimate ball, struck a mighty six that ended the match on 168, sufficient for a win, however heartbreakingly wanting the qualification threshold.
The ultimate moments of the match had been crammed with emotion. Taylor’s fast response a annoyed punch to her bat after hitting the profitable six encapsulated the anguish of a whole crew. Because the gamers embraced one another on the sphere, tears flowed freely, marking the tip of an period for a proud cricketing nation.
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Strategic miscalculations got here again to hang-out West Indies regardless of a file push on their last day
Whereas the main focus remained on the web run-rate equation within the last match, the seeds of West Indies’ heartbreak had been sown a lot earlier within the event. A shock opening loss to Scotland and a heavy 65-run defeat to Pakistan considerably broken their NRR and left little margin for error heading into the ultimate fixture. Even of their final match, after having Thailand at 85/6 within the twenty seventh over, West Indies failed to shut out the innings swiftly. Thailand’s decrease order, led by Natthakan Chantham, stitched collectively essential partnerships that pushed the full to 166, giving West Indies a a lot harder chase than initially anticipated. A goal nearer to 120 might need considerably eased their qualification path. Afy Fletcher’s good 4 for 20 efficiency in that match was rendered bittersweet within the face of this merciless final result.
Bangladesh clinch historic back-to-back Girls’s ODI World Cup appearances
Bangladesh, in the meantime, had executed simply sufficient earlier within the group levels to keep up an edge within the NRR race, regardless that they ended their marketing campaign with a seven-wicket defeat to Pakistan. Mockingly, Bangladesh had misplaced to West Indies in the course of the qualifiers, but emerged forward because of the latter’s earlier inconsistencies. It was Pakistan’s fast chase of Bangladesh’s goal achieved inside 40 overs that left a window of alternative open for West Indies. However ultimately, the Caribbean facet couldn’t squeeze via. For Bangladesh, it marked their second consecutive look in a Girls’s ODI World Cup a outstanding achievement for a crew nonetheless establishing itself on the highest stage.
Pakistan, who had did not qualify immediately, stormed via the qualifier event in type, profitable all 5 of their matches. They booked their spot within the eight-team fundamental occasion alongside hosts India, defending champions Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka all of whom had already sealed their spots primarily based on the ICC rankings. With Bangladesh now confirmed as the ultimate crew to make it to the marquee occasion, the lineup for the 2025 Girls’s ODI World Cup is now full. The event is ready to start on September 29 in India, the place high-stakes battles and international rivalries will unfold over the course of a month.
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This text was first revealed at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times firm.
