Hosts flounder in opener

Bangladesh captain Salma Khatun celebrates one of her two wickets during their ICC Women's World Cup Qualifiers game against Pakistan at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday. The Bangladesh batting however didn't match up to the bowlers' effort. Photo: Anisur Rahman

Pakistan beat hosts Bangladesh by 73 runs in one of four opening day matches of the ICC Women's World Cup qualifiers yesterday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
But the match that truly stole the show was the clash of the two tournament favourites Sri Lanka and South Africa in which the Proteas sneaked home by six runs. West Indies crushed Ireland by 213 runs and the Netherlands eased home to victory by six wickets against Zimbabwe.
BANGLADESH-PAKISTAN
Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat but found themselves in a spot of bother at 56 for three.
From there middle-order batswomen Bismah Maroof and Javeria Khan rebuilt with a partnership of 78 runs helped on by some poor fielding and a couple of fluffed chances by the hosts. But Bangladesh fought back chipping away with regular wickets and restricting the opposition to 197 in 50 overs thanks mainly to the nifty off-spin of Khadiza Tul Kubra who took 4-41.
The Bangladesh chase began with promise as the openers Ayesha Akhtar and Panna Ghosh got off to a cautious start adding 33 for the first wicket. But it all went downhill from there on in as none of the batters looked like dispatching the odd bad ball for four, of which there were plenty, and hitting through the gaps much less preserving their wicket and the hosts found themselves staring down the barrel at 86 for six.
The hosts eventually were all out for 124 in 42.2 overs.
Bangladesh play Japan at the BKSP today and this is a must-win match for the hosts if they are to go through to the Super Sixes.
SOUTH AFRICA-SRI LANKA
Shandre Fritz was the only player to hold the Proteas together as she made 61 out of 114 all out in 37 overs after Sri Lanka put them to bat.
In reply Sri Lanka could manage only 108 in 48.2 overs with Sunette Loubser of South Africa being the pick of the bowlers taking 5-27.
NETHERLANDS-ZIMBABWE
Zimbabwe won the toss and decided to bat in this low key match at the BKSP-2 ground and were all out for 145 runs in 49.5 overs.
In reply, the Netherlands cruised home to their target in just 25.2 overs and losing just four wickets.
IRELAND-WEST INDIES
West Indies openers Stefanie Taylor and Juliana Nero struck 107 and 100 respectively and put together 204 runs for the first wicket as West Indies ran off to 276-4 in their 50 overs.
Ireland, who had decided to field first, then promptly folded for just 63 runs in 30.1 overs with two players getting into the double-digit mark.
BRIEF SCORES
PAKISTAN: 197 all out in 50 overs (Maroof 79; Kubra 4-41, Salma 2-26).
BANGLADESH: 124 all out in 42.2 overs (Ayesha 19, Suktara 14; Dar 4-29).
Result: Pakistan won by 73 runs.
SOUTH AFRICA: 114 all out in 37 overs (Fritz 61; de Alwis 4-21)
SRI LANKA: 108 all out in 48.2 overs (Dolawatte 28 not out; Loubser 5-27)
Result: South Africa won by six runs.
ZIMBABWE: 145 all out in 49.5 overs (Nyathi 29; Lanser 3-17)
NETHERLANADS: 148-4 in 25.2 overs (Veringmeier 47; Marange 1-6)
Result: Netherlands won by six wickets.
WEST INDIES: 276-4 in 50 overs (Taylor 107; McCarthy 1-51).
IRELAND: 63 all out in 30.1 overs (Garth 24; Etienne 3-16).
Result: West Indies won by 213 runs.