The second day of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier was played today in Dundee and Angus with PNG, Bangladesh, Thailand and Ireland recording victories as the tournament moved toward the end of the group stages.
Team USA, tasked with their biggest challenge of the tournament so far, showed no signs of apprehension as they faced Bangladesh at Arbroath with both opening bats playing their shots – albeit to their downfall – with Erica Rendler bowled with a quite brilliant yorker and Nadia Gruny scooping straight into the gloves of the keeper three overs into play to hand Bangladesh the perfect start.
With early wickets back in the shed, USA attempted to rotate the strike and keep the scoreboard ticking with a number of quick singles, but fell victim to two run-outs thanks to sharp work from the Bangladesh fielders.
At the conclusion of their 20 overs, USA could only manage 46 as they were bowled out with one ball remaining but not without effort – Sugetha Chandhrasekar (who top scored with 15) batting for 37 deliveries and Samantha Ramautar occupying the crease for 30 balls on her way to 5.
Chasing 47, Bangladesh knocked off the runs required in 8.2 overs, with opener Sanjida Islam scoring the bulk of the runs with 30 from 34, striking three fours and one six on the way.
Two wickets in two balls for Akshatha Rao in the penultimate over of the game, lifted the spirits of the USA team but were not enough to avoid defeat.
Bangladesh beat USA by 8 wickets at Arbroath Cricket Club
USA 46, 19.5 overs (SK Chandhrasekar 15; N Akter 3/12)
Bangladesh 48/2, 8.2 overs (S Islam 30; A Rao 2/9)
Schedule
Qualifier group stage
31 August: USA v Scotland – Lost by 30 runs
1 September: USA v Bangladesh – Lost by 8 wickets
3 September: USA v Papua New Guinea (2.00pm, Arbroath Cricket Club)
Finals stages
5 September: Semi-Finals/5th-8th Place Play-off Semis
7 September: Final/5th-8th Place Finals
