West Indies off-spinner Karishma Ramharack and fast bowler Aaliyah Alleyne enjoyed career days on Tuesday, with 4-33 and 3-24, respectively. But the match made much of the wrong kinds of history for the home team, as it marked their first loss to Bangladesh in any format. The Tigresses beat the Maroon Warriors by 60 runs in the second One Day International (ODI) at Warner Park in St Kitts & Nevis.
Ramharack says the hosts must look to bounce back when they meet in the series decider on Friday at the same venue. The 30-year-old played a significant role in helping keep the tourists’ batting under control for the second game in a row, but unlike the first encounter, the West Indies batting did not show up.
““It’s always good to be in the wickets. I’m really happy to get career-best figures, but I would have liked to win the game obviously. We are going to come harder next game,” said Ramharack. “So that you know, I guess it will be a bit easier for us.
“We just need to apply ourselves and spend time at the wicket. I don’t think there is any pressure. I just think we need to sit down and think about the way we go about our batting, apply ourselves, and come out and execute.
“We had some bowling targets as a group, and we were able to hit those targets on the head. I think the way mainly Aaliyah and Cherry [Cherry-Ann Fraser] batted are good signs for us as a batting group. But again, we just have to revise those things and come back the next game.”
The loss to Bangladesh put them one win away from direct qualification for this year’s Women’s ODI World Cup. Bangladesh are now seventh in the ODI Women’s Championship points table with 21 points, the same as New Zealand who are placed sixth. Hosts India and the top five teams in the ICC table will gain direct entry into the ODI World Cup.
Going into the third ODI, the final game of this Women’s Championship cycle, West Indies are in ninth place with 16 points and are out of the race for direct qualification. The remaining four teams from the Women’s Championship table will play in the ODI World Cup qualifiers along with two more teams for the remaining two spots for the main event.
On Tuesday, captain Nigar Sultana led the way with 68 as Bangladesh were bowled out for 184 in 48.5 overs. She struck five fours in her 120-ball stay, bringing up her fifth half-century in ODIs. Nigar anchored the innings, adding a 51-run stand with Sobhana Mostary for the fourth wicket.
Left-arm spinner Nahida Akter led the Bangladesh charge with the ball, taking three wickets, which included two of West Indies’ top three. Marufa Akter, Rabeya Khan and Fahima Khatun all took two wickets each as the hosts were bowled out for 124 in 35 overs.
Shemaine Campbelle top-scored with 28, one of five West Indians in double figures, while the big hitters Hayley Matthews (16) and Deandra Dottin (2) fell for low scores. Fraser added an unbeaten 18, Alleyne 15, and Ramharack 13.
(TF)
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