CHATTOGRAM, Jan 22, 2025 (BSS)- Bangladesh Women's team kept their hopes to 
have a direct qualification to the ICC Cricket World Cup alive by claiming a 
60-run win over West Indies in the second ODI of the three-match series at 
Basseterre in St Kitts today.

Tigresses made a history by virtue of this triumph since it was their first 
victory over West Indies in any format of cricket.

Skipper Nigar Sultana Joty and the spin trio-- Nahid Akter, Rabeya Akter and 
Fahima Khatun-- were instrumental in the landmark victory that helped them 
level the series. Bangladesh lost the first match by nine wickets despite 
putting up 198-9 on the board.

In the second ODI, they amassed 184 before being all out in 48.5 overs but 
defended it well to wrap up West Indies for 124 in 35 overs.

Nahida Akter led the charge with 3-31 while Rabeya Khatun and Fahim Khatun 
took two wickets apiece, meaning spinners shared seven wickets to slice the 
West Indies batting line up. Pacer Marufa Akter did the initial damage with 
2-35.

West Indies Captain Shemaine Campbelle made team-high 28 while No.10 batter 
Cherry-Ann Fraser scored 18. Opener Healy Matthews who scored a century to 
sink Bangladesh in the previous match made just 16 this time.

Put into bat first, Bangladesh earlier rode on 68 runs of skipper Joty who 
steadied the innings despite wickets tumbling around her. Sobhana Mostary 
with 23 and Shorna Akter with 21 gave the skipper a much-needed support after 
Bangladesh's top three batters-- Fargana Hoque Pinky (18), Murshida Khatun 
(12) and Sharmin Akter Supta (11) fared badly.

Karishma Ramharack was the most successful bowler for West Indies, grabbing 
4-33 while Aaliyah Alleyen returned figures of 3-24.

After this victory, Bangladesh put them in seventh place by amassing 21 
points in 23 matches in ICC Women's Championship. New Zealand which had also 
21 points played all 24 matches but still in sixth place by better run rate 
than Bangladesh.

So, if Bangladesh win their final match against West Indies, they will topple 
New Zealand to play the World Cup directly. 

Top six teams will make a direct entry to the World Cup.

In case of a defeat, Bangladesh would have to play the Qualifying round with 
other five teams-- Pakistan, West Indies, Ireland, Scotland and Thailand. Two 
teams from the Qualifying round will join the top six teams in the World Cup.