South Africa beats Sri Lanka to qualify for Women’s World Cup

Monday, 20 February 2017 00:14 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

ESPNCricinfo: South Africa Women restricted Sri Lanka Women to 142 for 9 and chased the target down with nine wickets and 83 balls to spare at the P Sara Oval. The big win helped South Africa qualify for the Women’s World Cup to be held in England and Wales from 24 June to 23 July.

Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt laid the platform for the chase with a 46-run opening partnership. The stand ended when Eshani Lokusuriyage had Lee caught by Chamari Atapattu in the ninth over. Wolvaardt and Suné Luus, however, hit unbeaten half-centuries to seal the win.

Luus was at it with the ball too, taking 3 for 40 in 10 overs with her legspin. Dane van Niekerk, the other legspinner, complemented her with 2 for 14 in 10 overs, including four maidens. Sri Lanka lost wickets in a heap with only four of their batsmen reaching double-figures. Opener Nipuni Hansika top scored with 48 off 96 balls, including six fours.

“It was a very important match for us, not just to qualify but I think for us to keep the pressure off the next game as well,” Luus said after the game. “The pace bowlers set the match up nicely and the batters could just do their job.

“Fielding is something we need to improve and we are busy working on it. We are a much better side than we are displaying at the moment. This [qualification] is what we have been working for. I think we are going to celebrate tonight but also not lose sight of what’s coming. We are playing Ireland next and hopefully a final!”

An unbroken 136-run stand between opener Mona Meshram (78*) and her captain Mithali Raj (73*) helped India Women canter to a nine-wicket victory over Bangladesh Women at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo. After their bowlers, led by seamer Mansi Joshi’s 3 for 25, limited Bangladesh to 155 for 8, India aced the chase with nearly 100 balls to spare. The win assured India of a spot in the Women’s World Cup.

Having opted to bowl, India made light work of the Bangladesh top order thanks to Joshi. Sharmin Akhter (35) and Fargana Hoque (50) then mounted some resistance by adding 62 runs in 140 balls, but the rest of the batting line-up fell away.

Deepti Sharma exited early in the chase, but Raj, who made her 43rd ODI half-century, and Meshram, who hit her second ODI half-century, powered India home.

Meshram, who the bagged the Player-of-the-match award, said: “Mithali’s experience helps when you bat with her. The pressure is released when she plays her shots.”

Fifties from opener Nahida Khan and Javeria Khan led Pakistan Women to 271, a total they defended by 86 runs against Ireland Women at the Colombo cricket ground.

Having opted to bat, Pakistan lost Ayesha Zafar early, but Nahida and Javeria took the score to 155 before Javeria retired hurt on 65. She returned to add 25 more to her tally, while Nahida was dismissed for 72. Late cameos from Nain Abidi and captain Sana Mir then pushed the total past 270.

In reply, Ireland were bowled out for 185 in 48.5 overs. Their major source of resistance came from a 74-run stand for the second wicket between Cecelia Joyce and Kim Garth. Apart from them, only Isobel Joyce passed 15. Nashra Sandhu, Sana Mir, and Sadia Yousuf picked up two wickets each for Pakistan.