Bangladesh go three from three while Ireland claim first win in ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier

Bangladesh made it three wins from as many matches at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier with a 34-run win over Scotland.

Nigar Sultana Joty’s rapid and unbeaten 83 was backed up by four wickets for Nahida Akter as Bangladesh joined Pakistan on six points, leapfrogging the hosts at the summit on net run rate.

In the day’s other fixture, Ireland got off the mark for the competition with a 46-run win over Thailand, Louise Little starring with five wickets.

Bangladesh hold firm against Scotland

Bangladesh lost Ishma Tanjim (14) early, but Fargana Hoque and Sharmin Akhter laid the foundation for a strong total, both scoring patient scores of 57 before falling in quick succession.

The stage was left clear for the in-form Joty to dominate the death overs, the skipper finished unbeaten on 83 from 59 deliveries to add to her scores of 101 against Thailand and 51 against Ireland.

Fahima Khatun chipped in with a valuable 26 from 22 balls as Bangladesh lifted themselves to 276 for six. Kathryn Bryce was the pick of the Scotland attack with two for 53.

Marufa Akter and Nahida Akter combined to reduce Scotland to 31 for three in their reply, Nahida claimed the key wicket of skipper Bryce, who was bowled out for five.

Her sister, wicketkeeper Sarah Bryce, picked up the mantle and compiled a busy 42 before chipping a return catch back to Jannatul Ferdus to leave her side 102 for six. That soon became 110 for seven but Priyanaz Chatterji and Rachel Slater showed admirable resilience over the course of their 115-run stand for the eighth wicket, which was ended when Chatterji was stumped off the bowling of Nahida for 61.

Slater returned unbeaten for 63 as Scotland finished 34 runs short, Nahida ending with four for 40 as her side consolidated their place alongside Pakistan in the top two.

Louise Little inspires Ireland triumph

Louise Little’s five-wicket haul helped seal victory for Ireland against a Thailand side still looking for their first win of the Qualifier.

Ireland batted first and started strongly, Sarah Forbes and captain Gaby Lewis shared 88 for the opening stand before the former fell for 29 from the final ball of the 16th over.

Lewis progressed past her half-century before becoming the next batter to fall for 75, but Amy Hunter kept up the momentum with a 71-ball 76 including 10 boundaries.

Hunter was clean bowled by Chanida Sutthiruang, the pick of the Thailand bowlers with one for 43 from her 10 overs, while Leah Paul smashed an unbeaten 67 from 40 balls, with 10 fours and a six, as Ireland finished with a flourish.

Eighty-six runs came from the final 10 overs to take the score to 305 for four and set an imposing target for Thailand to chase.

That task became steeper when they slipped to 76 for four in their reply and though several of their middle order got starts, notably captain Naruemol Chaiwai (37), Phannita Maya (43) and Suwanan Khiaoto (57), Ireland stayed in control with regular wickets.

Little, the younger sister of Ireland men’s star Josh and women’s teammate Hannah, was the chief destroyer, removing both Maya and Khiaoto on her way to career-best figures of five for 28 from 9.1 overs as Thailand were bowled out for 259 in the final over.

Scores in brief

Ireland v Thailand at Lahore City Cricket Association Ground

Ireland 305/4 in 50 overs (Amy Hunter 76, Gaby Lewis 75; Chanida Sutthiruang 1/43, Suleeporn Laomi 1/47)

Thailand 259 all out in 49.1 overs (Suwanan Khiaoto 57, Phannita Maya 43; Louise Little 5/28, Kia McCartney 2/73)

Result: Ireland win by 46 runs

Bangladesh v Scotland at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore

Bangladesh 276/6 in 50 overs (Nigar Sultana 83 not out, Sharmin Akhter 57, Fargana Hoque 57; Kathryn Bryce 2/53, Rachel Slater 1/33)

Scotland 243/9 in 50 overs (Rachel Slater 61 not out, Priyanaz Chatterji 61; Nahida Akter 4/40, Jannatul Ferdus 2/43)

Result: Bangladesh win by 34 runs

About the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier

The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier is the final step in the qualification pathway to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025.

The sixth edition of the Qualifier is hosted by Pakistan where matches will be played at Gaddafi Stadium and Lahore City Cricket Association.

Fans will see teams from four Full Members – Bangladesh, Ireland, Pakistan and the West Indies – compete with Associate Members Scotland and Thailand in the 15-match league tournament that will decide the two qualifiers for the main event in India later this year.

Day matches will begin at 09h30 and day/night matches at 14h00 local time.