Dhaka – Setting their seats in the ICC Women’s World T20, Bangladesh and Ireland are now taking on each other in the qualifiers tournament final at Sportpark Maarschalkerweerd, Utrecht in Netherlands on Saturday. The eight-team tournament final will begin at 8pm [Bangladesh time] with both sides hoping to cap their campaign with silverware.
The finalists have come into this match with their perfect records in their respective pools and neither has been seriously tested so far in the competition.
Bangladesh stormed into final, eliminating Scotland with a 49-run victory in the second semifinals after finishing atop Pool ‘A’ as they crushed Papua New Guinea by eight wickets, the Netherlands by seven wickets and United Arab Emirates by eight wickets to maintain their winning streak.
Ireland got a 27-run win against Papua New Guinea in the 1st semifinals for their final berth after atop Pool ‘B’ with all-win six points, having a seven-wicket win against Thailand, nine-wicket win against Scotland and an eight-wicket win against Uganda.
Bangladesh’s entry into the World T20 comes on the back of a maiden Asia Cup title-winning in June before getting 2-1 T20I series win against Ireland.
Either Bangladesh or Ireland will face West Indies in Group ‘A’ or Australia in Group ‘B’ in the World T20 on November 9 and 11. The decision is depending on the result of the final.
Squads:
Bangladesh: Salma Khatun (captain), Ayasha Rahman, Fahima Khatun, Fargana Hoque Pinky, Jahanara Alam, Khadiza-Tul Kubra, Lily Rani Biswas, Nahida Akter, Nigar Sultana Joty, Rumana Ahmed, Panna Ghosh, Shamima Sultana, Sanjida Islam and Sarmin Sultana.
Ireland: Laura Delany (captain), Kim Garth, Cecelia Joyce, Isobel Joyce, Shauna Kavanagh, Gaby Lewis, Lara Maritz, Ciara Metcalfe, Cara Murray, Lucy O’Reilly, Eimear Richardson, Clare Shillington, Rebecca Stokell and Mary Waldron.UNB
