Ireland's campaign to qualify for the finals of the Women's World Cup in 2012 got off to the worst possible start in Dhaka, Bangladesh, today (Monday 14th). Isobel Joyce won the toss and asked West Indies to bat, but then had to watch StafanieTaylor and Juliana Nero compile a double century opening partnership. Nero had just reached a run-a-ball century out of 204 when she was run out by Jill Whelan in the 38th over.
Ireland then kept the Windies to a run a ball for the rest of the innings, the score reaching 276-4. Taylor eventually reached her century before being stumped off Isobel Joyce for 107. The skipper then caught King off Louise McCarthy for a quickfire 18. The tightest bowling came from Kim Garth, conceding 33 in 9 overs, and Eimear Richardson, 43 off 10, but McCarthy and Jill Whelan went for worse than fives, and Isobel Joyce and Elena Tice worse than sevens.
Selman and Etienne then bowled Shillington and Whelan for ducks in the first two overs, and the innings continued to crumble with only opener Cecilia Joyce (13) and number seven Kim Garth (24) reaching double figures. Etienne finished with 3/16, Daley and King took two wickets apiece, and Ireland were bowled out for 63 in 30.1 overs.
The defeat was made worse by Pakistan's victory over Bangladesh. Winning the toss and batting, Pakistan lost skipper Sana Mir in the fourth over. Qanita Jalil (33) and Nida Dar (15) steadied the ship, and after both were out, Bismah Maroof's 79 assisted by Javeria Khan's 30 steered Pakisan to a respectable total of 197 all out in 50 overs. Salma Khatun took 2/26 and Khadiza Tul Kubra 4/41 in their sets of ten overs.
In reply, none of the Bangladeshis got more than a start - six made double figures, but the top score was only nineteen! Nida Dar took 4/29 and Bismah Maroof 2/16 as Bangladesh were all out for 124 in 42.2 overs.
In the other group there were wins for Netherlands and South Africa. The Dutch women bowled Zimbabwe out for 145 in 49.5 overs, keeper Nyathi top-scoring with 29 and Lanser taking 3/17 off her ten overs. Hannema was run out in the fifth over, but keeper/opener Veringmeier scored a run-a-ball 47, skipper Rambaldo made 30 and Tomlinson was on 46* when Netherlands passed the Zim total in the 26th over.
It was a much closer affair between South Africa and Sri Lanka. The Proteas batted first and reached only 114 in 37 overs, opener Fritz being eighth out for 61. For Sri Lamka, de Alwis took 4/21 off her ten, and Ravikumar 4/23 off 8. There was just one wide in the innings!
At 39-1, Sri Lanka were in the box seat, but in the 15th over Loubser got to work, dismissing Mendis for 20. She took four more wickets as the Sri Lankans crashed to 83-9 in the 29th over, but her ten overs were up (5/27). Number 11 Ravikumar hung around with number five Dolawatta for nineteen and a half overs as Sri Lanka edged ever closer to the South Africa score. But Ravikumar was caught off Tryon (1/6 in 8.2 overs), leaving her partner on 28* and her team six runs adrift, all out for 108 in 48.2 overs.
On Tuesday, Ireland meet Pakistan in what is a must-win game if Ireland are to finish in the top two of the five team group, while Bangladesh meet Japan. In Group A, South Africa play USA while Netherlands meet Sri Lanka.
Cheers,
Stu.
www.studaultrey.com
