Bangladesh One Step Away from ODI World Cup Qualification After Beating West Indies
Nigar Sultana and Nahida Akter Headline Bangladesh’s Maiden Win Against West Indies in Any Format
Bangladesh are now just one win away from securing direct qualification for the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup after defeating the West Indies by 60 runs in the second ODI in Basseterre on January 21, 2025. This victory marked Bangladesh’s first-ever win against the West Indies in any format, leveling the series 1-1 after West Indies had won the first match by nine wickets on January 19.
Match Highlights:
- Bangladesh: 184 all out (Nigar Sultana 68, Sobhana Mostary 23, Karishma Ramharack 4-33, Aaliyah Alleyne 3-24)
- West Indies: 124 all out (Shemaine Campbelle 28, Nahida Akter 3-31)
- Result: Bangladesh won by 60 runs
With the win, Bangladesh have moved to 7th place in the Women’s ODI Championship points table with 21 points, tied with New Zealand, who are in 6th place. The top five teams in the table, plus host nation India, will qualify directly for the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup. Bangladesh now need either a victory or a no-result in the final ODI of the series on January 26 to surpass New Zealand and secure direct qualification for the World Cup for the first time in their history.
West Indies, on the other hand, remain in 9th place with 16 points, effectively ending their hopes of direct qualification. The teams finishing 6th to 8th, along with two other teams, will compete in the ODI World Cup qualifiers for the remaining two spots in the tournament.
Key Performances:
Bangladesh’s captain, Nigar Sultana, led from the front with a vital 68 off 120 balls. She played a steadying role after Bangladesh’s top order faltered, anchoring the innings and forming a crucial 51-run partnership with Sobhana Mostary (23). Despite Bangladesh’s low total of 184, Nigar’s knock ensured they had enough to challenge West Indies.
The West Indies bowlers were led by Karishma Ramharack (4-33) and Aaliyah Alleyne (3-24), but they couldn’t prevent Bangladesh from posting a competitive total.
With the ball, Nahida Akter was the star for Bangladesh, claiming 3 wickets for 31 runs. She dismissed two of West Indies’ top three batters, including key players Hayley Matthews (16) and Deandra Dottin (2). Marufa Akter, Rabeya Khan, and Fahima Khatun also contributed with two wickets each as West Indies were bowled out for just 124 in 35 overs.
Despite the challenging conditions for bowlers, Bangladesh executed their game plan well. Nigar praised the team’s effort, noting that bouncing back from a heavy loss in the first match was crucial for maintaining momentum. “The two points are priceless, but we also want to achieve a series win by winning the next game,” she said after the match. “We haven’t won an overseas series before, so this is very important for us.”
Nigar also reflected on her knock, saying, “I took my time to settle down in the middle. I played out a lot of deliveries, but the runs turned out to be important, and I’m happy to contribute to the team’s success.”
Looking Ahead:
Bangladesh now have the chance to make history with the final ODI of the series coming up on January 26, 2025. A win or a no-result would guarantee them a spot in the World Cup, making the next match a highly anticipated one. As for West Indies, they will now focus on finishing the series strongly and aiming for the qualifiers.