Tigresses retain title with record win
The Bangladesh women's cricket team retained the title of the Women's T20 World Cup Qualifiers with a record-equalling 70-run win over Thailand in the final at Dundee, Scotland yesterday.
Batting first after winning the toss, the women in red and green posted 130 for five in their allotted 20 overs -- the highest score of the tournament – before restricting the Thais for a paltry 60 for seven, ensuring their second successive title in the event. The win also helped them equal their highest-margin of victory, with the previous one being by 70 runs against Malaysia in 2018.
Both Bangladesh and Thailand had already sealed their qualification for Women's World T20 in 2020 following their semifinal victories over Ireland and Papua New Guinea respectively.
Bangladesh made a brisk start to their innings with the two openers Sanjida Islam and Murshida Khatun scoring 68 runs in the first 10 overs. Murshidha was dismissed for a 34-ball 33, but Sanjida held one end up and stayed till the end to ensure the highest score of the tournament. Right-hander Sanjida, who scored an unbeaten 32 in the semi-final against Ireland on Thursday, scored 71 off 60 deliveries, with her innings featuring three sixes and six fours.
In doing so, Sanjida became the top run-getter in an innings for Bangladesh, beating the previous highest of 66 not out by Fargana Haque.
Although the Tigresses lost a few wickets towards the end of their innings, Sanjida's big-hitting ensured they posted the highest total of the tournament.
The Bangladesh bowlers then broke the backbone of the Thailand innings, reducing them to four for 17 in nine overs before eventually restricting them to 60. Nahida Akter and Shaila Sharmin took two wickets each while Salma Khatun and Khadija Tul Kubra chipped in with a wicket apiece. Salma was the most economical of the bowlers, conceding only four runs in her four overs.
Sanjida won the player-of-the-match award while Thailand's Chanida Sutthiruang was adjudged the best player of the tournament.