West Indies eye Bangladesh scalp to boost semifinal hopes

SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates – After a commanding victory over Scotland, the West Indies will be looking to carry their momentum into their crucial clash against Bangladesh on Thursday, aiming to secure another win and solidify their chances of finishing in the top two of Group B.

The regional side had a tough start after being outclassed by South Africa in their opening game. But the Windies Women bounced back in style against Scotland, a win that not only gave them their first points but also improved their net run rate (NRR), pushing them into the second spot in the group standings.

Despite this resurgence, concerns remain at the top of the order, particularly with captain Hayley Matthews, who has yet to fire in the tournament.

As the leader, she will be eager to set the tone with a big performance.

On the brighter side, key players like Qiana Joseph and Deandra Dottin found form with the bat, while their bowling attack showed discipline and precision.

Another all-around performance will be the goal for the West Indies as they seek to put together back-to-back wins.

Veteran leg-spinner Afy Fletcher emphasized the importance of net run rate in such a tight competition.

“The net run rate will be crucial as you don’t know how the other games will go. In cricket, you have to look at improving your net rate, and sometimes that might assist. We have to keep it simple, maintain our net rate, and see how the games play out in the future.”

In the meantime, Bangladesh kicked off their campaign with a win over Scotland but stumbled against a strong England side, despite putting up a tough fight.

Batting has been their Achilles heel, with Sobhana Mostary being the only consistent contributor, scoring 36 and 44 in their two games.

Their bowlers have performed well, but if Bangladesh are to upset the West Indies and shake up Group B, they will need to produce a much stronger effort with the bat.

CMC

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