In a dramatic flip of occasions at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, the West Indies cricket crew noticed their hopes of qualifying for the ICC Ladies’s ODI World Cup 2025 shattered by a margin as minuscule as 0.01 on the web run-rate scale. Regardless of securing a high-octane win in opposition to Thailand, Hayley Matthews’ aspect was left devastated as Bangladesh edged forward on internet run-rate (NRR) to clinch the ultimate qualifying spot. West Indies and Bangladesh each completed with six factors, however Bangladesh‘s NRR of 0.639 narrowly eclipsed West Indies’ 0.626, marking the top of a 25-year streak throughout which West Indies had participated in each World Cup since 2000.
West Indies’ blistering chase in opposition to Thailand couldn’t outpace the clock
Set a frightening process of chasing down 167 runs in simply 10 overs to leapfrog Bangladesh’s internet run-rate, West Indies responded with firepower and intent. Captain Matthews led from the entrance with a sensational innings, smashing 70 off simply 29 deliveries. She introduced up her half-century in solely 21 balls, turning into the second-fastest to achieve the milestone in girls’s ODI historical past. With help from Qiana Joseph (26 off 12) and Chinelle Henry (a whirlwind 20-run burst), West Indies roared to 156 for 3 in 10 overs, the highest-ever 10-over rating within the format’s historical past. Regardless of needing solely 11 extra runs from that time to qualify, the final touch got here just some balls too late. A six from Stafanie Taylor ultimately sealed a six-wicket win, however the West Indies had fallen agonizingly in need of the qualification goal by the slimmest margin possible.
Because the eleventh over started, West Indies wanted not simply victory, however an accelerated end to surpass Bangladesh’s superior internet run-rate. A single from the primary supply added to the stress, however then catastrophe struck once more Henry was run out, leaving the equation much more difficult. Aaliyah Alleyne, undeterred, hit a boundary off her very first ball and took a single subsequent, nudging West Indies to 162 after 10.4 overs. With the run-rate equations tightening, a 4 off the subsequent ball would have leveled the scores and left the crew needing a six off the final supply to complete on 172, simply sufficient to eclipse Bangladesh’s NRR. However destiny had one final twist. Stafanie Taylor, going through the penultimate ball, struck a mighty six that ended the match on 168, sufficient for a win, however heartbreakingly in need of the qualification threshold.
The ultimate moments of the match had been crammed with emotion. Taylor’s speedy response a pissed off punch to her bat after hitting the successful six encapsulated the anguish of a complete crew. Because the gamers embraced one another on the sector, tears flowed freely, marking the top of an period for a proud cricketing nation.
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Strategic miscalculations got here again to hang-out West Indies regardless of a document push on their last day
Whereas the main focus remained on the web run-rate equation within the last match, the seeds of West Indies’ heartbreak had been sown a lot earlier within the event. A shock opening loss to Scotland and a heavy 65-run defeat to Pakistan considerably broken their NRR and left little margin for error heading into the ultimate fixture. Even of their final match, after having Thailand at 85/6 within the twenty seventh over, West Indies failed to shut out the innings swiftly. Thailand’s decrease order, led by Natthakan Chantham, stitched collectively important partnerships that pushed the entire to 166, giving West Indies a a lot more durable chase than initially anticipated. A goal nearer to 120 may need considerably eased their qualification path. Afy Fletcher’s sensible 4 for 20 efficiency in that match was rendered bittersweet within the face of this merciless final result.
Bangladesh clinch historic back-to-back Ladies’s ODI World Cup appearances
Bangladesh, in the meantime, had finished simply sufficient earlier within the group levels to keep up an edge within the NRR race, although they ended their marketing campaign with a seven-wicket defeat to Pakistan. Satirically, Bangladesh had misplaced to West Indies through the qualifiers, but emerged forward as a result of latter’s earlier inconsistencies. It was Pakistan’s fast chase of Bangladesh’s goal achieved inside 40 overs that left a window of alternative open for West Indies. However ultimately, the Caribbean aspect couldn’t squeeze by means of. For Bangladesh, it marked their second consecutive look in a Ladies’s ODI World Cup a outstanding achievement for a crew nonetheless establishing itself on the highest stage.
Pakistan, who had didn’t qualify straight, stormed by means of the qualifier event in fashion, successful all 5 of their matches. They booked their spot within the eight-team important occasion alongside hosts India, defending champions Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka all of whom had already sealed their spots primarily based on the ICC rankings. With Bangladesh now confirmed as the ultimate crew to make it to the marquee occasion, the lineup for the 2025 Ladies’s ODI World Cup is now full. The event is ready to start on September 29 in India, the place high-stakes battles and international rivalries will unfold over the course of a month.
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This text was first revealed at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Instances firm.