Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Sri Lanka on Sunday completed the line-up for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 after winning their last round matches of the Super Six stage of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka scored a 42 runs victory over Bangladesh under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method to qualify as the third side behind India and South Africa with six points in the Super Six stage while Pakistan had a forgettable outing against India in their last match to finish with four points.

Pakistan were bowled out for only 67 runs and lost by seven wickets as India got past the target in only 22.3 overs but Pakistan qualified as the fourth team since Bangladesh were nowhere near a big win that they needed against Sri Lanka to come into the equation. Sri Lanka scored 197 for nine and then reduced Bangladesh to 68 for five when rain stopped proceedings. These four teams have not only qualified for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 but also for the ICC Women’s Championship. World champions Australia, England, New Zealand and the West Indies are the teams to have already made it by virtue of finishing in the top four of the previous ICC Women’s Championship that ran from 2014 to 2016.

Sri Lanka scored steadily after being put in to bat with opener Chamari Athapaththu scoring 84 with eight fours and one six. Bangladesh was 68 for five in 21 overs with Udeshika Prabhodini grabbing two for 14 when rain forced an early end. The India-Pakistan match was the only one to finish before their venue was hit by rain. Put in to bat, Pakistan kept losing wickets at regular intervals and went into a shell. They were 55 for eight by the 32nd over and the innings petered out for 43.4 overs, of which 18 were maiden overs. Left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht finished with a career-best five for eight, which included seven maiden overs. India opener Deepti Sharma scored 29 not out and Harmanpreet Kaur made 24 as India got to the target easily.

Pakistan captain Sana Mir said in a statement: “I’ve to admit that we were a little worried about the run-rates as our batting collapsed. We were checking the scores of other teams. It (qualifying) was something that we wanted to do on our own but at the end of the day we are carrying positives from here. Our batting performed well in other matches and that’s how we could qualify.” India’s unbeaten run in the tournament saw them finish with a maximum of 10 points after the Super Six stage while South Africa won all their matches except the one against India to finish with eight points. The two sides will now play the final on February 21.

Brief scores

1: Pakistan 67 all out in 43.4 overs (Ayesha Zafar 19, Akta Bisht 5-8, Shikha Pandey 2-9) VS India 70-3 in 22.3 overs (Deepti Sharma 29 not out, Sadia Yousuf 2-19).

2: Sri Lanka 197-9 in 50 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 84, Hasini Perera 32, Salma Khatun 3-18) VS Bangladesh 68-5 in 21 overs (Nigar Sultana 24, Udeshika Prabhodini 2-14).