Zimbabwe, PNG, Ireland and Bangladesh register comprehensive wins: Day 2 Wrap - Women's T20WC Qualifier
Toss: Thailand opted to bat
Result: Zimbabwe won by six wickets
Opting to bat first, Thailand were in big trouble early on after losing wickets in quick succession. Zimbabwe's bowling trio of Nomvelo Sibanda, Josephine Nkomo and Audrey Mazvishaya made life difficult for the Thailand batters in the opening exchange that saw them lose half their side inside the first seven overs.
Nannapat Koncharoenkai and Sornnarin Tippoch were forced to drop anchor to avoid getting bundled out for cheap. However, it meant that they had to bat extremely cautiously. Their 22-run stand came off 47 balls. Koncharoenkai remained unbeaten on 47 as Thailand ended up with a modest 86/6 in their 20 overs.
Sharne Mayers and Kelis Ndlovu got Zimbabwe off to a quick start and within the first five overs, had knocked off half the target. Mayer fell after the Powerplay and Zimbabwe lost three quick wickets thereafter, including that of Ndlovu four runs short of a fifty. However, they chased down the target with more than three overs to spare to go on top of Group B in the table.
Toss: UAE opted to field
Result: PNG won by 29 runs
Put in to bat first, Sibona Jimmy and Naoani Vare got the team off to a solid start with a 29-run opening stand. Jimmy then added 35 runs for the second wicket along with Tanya Ruma with the former assuming the role of the aggressor.
Once Jimmy departed, Ruma took on the UAE bowling attack, starting with three consecutive sixes off Vaishnave Mahesh in the 13th over. PNG were 115/2 with five overs remaining before UAE fought back brilliantly to restrict PNG to 148/6. Bowling all four of her overs on the trot in the end, Samaira Dharnidharka returned with brilliant figures of 3/22. Ruma got to a well-deserved half-century laced with 4 fours and sixes each.
UAE got off to a brisk start in the Powerplay, scoring 46 runs while losing just one wicket. The second-wicket stand between Theertha Satish and Kavisha Egodage was worth 53 runs and put UAE in a commanding position in the chase.
However, the wicket of Egodage triggered a collapse and UAE never managed to recover from it. From 77/2, UAE could only manage 119/8. Satish was the last wicket to fall but her 56-ball 68 went in vain as UAE fell short by 29 runs.
Toss: Scotland opted to bat
Result: Bangladesh won by six wickets
The decision to bat first did not work out as well as Scotland would have wanted. They lost their openers Ailsa Lister and Saskia Horley inside the Powerplay and skipper Kathryn Bryce soon after it.
Shohely Akhter scalped three wickets in two overs to put Scotland on the back foot. At 42/7, it looked like Scotland would be bundled out quickly before Lorna Jack and Rachel Slater put on a 29-run stand to save their side the blushes. They were bowled out for 77, with Akhter proving to be the destructor in chief with figures of 4-1-74.
In response, Bangladesh lost Shamima Sultana early but Nigar Sultana played an assured knock as captain to take Bangladesh to a win. She stitched a 38-run partnership with Murshida Khatun and added 22 more runs with Rumana Ahmed.
She eventually fell in what turned out to be the final over of the game but not before taking Bangladesh to the brink of a win. The comfortable six-wicket win takes Bangladesh to the top of Group A in the Qualifier.
Toss: USA opted to bat
Result: Ireland won by nine wickets
The decision to bat first in the evening games backfired on both Scotland and USA. A run-out got Ireland the wicket of opener Mahika Kandanala in the Powerplay before Disha Dhingra and captain Sindhu Sriharsha pulled out a rescue act. They put on a patient partnership worth 44 runs but USA lost their way once the set batters departed in a space of three overs.
The wicket of the skipper in the 12th over triggered a collapse and USA, who at one point were 66/2, were bowled out of 91. Eimear Richardson and Arlene Kelly picked two wickets each while Cara Murray and Laura Delany chipped in with a wicket each.
Amy Hunter and Gaby Lewis made a mockery of the chase with a 91-run stand. The wicket of Hunter was the only bit of joy for the USA bowlers as Ireland cruised to a nine-wicket win and put their first points on board.
Scotland and Ireland meet on Wednesday to find out which team secures the crucial top-two finish for a shot at a Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier playoff. while Bangladesh will look to make it three from three when they face the winless USA in the other Group A game.
Thailand and Papua New Guinea will clash later in the day with an all-important top-two spot on the line, while the undefeated Zimbabwe will want to lock in first place in Group B when they face the UAE.