Tigresses on the brink after WI loss

Bangladesh are all but out of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup after suffering a demoralising eight-wicket defeat to former champions West Indies in the two teams' penultimate Group B match in Sharjah on Thursday.

The Tigresses went into the game with hopes of keeping their semifinal dreams alive after a loss to England, but their total of just 103 for eight proved no match for the West Indies, who cruised to victory in just 12.5 overs.

With only two points from three matches -- courtesy of their win over Scotland in the tournament opener -- Bangladesh's hopes now rest on a series of unlikely results. Meanwhile, West Indies have topped the group with four points from three matches, edging past South Africa on net run-rate.

At the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, the Nigar Sultana Joty-led side showed promise after being asked to bat. Thanks to a 40-run partnership between Joty and Sobhana Mostary (16) for the third wicket, Bangladesh were 72 for two in 12.5 overs, but three quick wickets in the span of two runs and 11 deliveries irreversibly placed the West Indies in the driving seat.

Joty scored a team-high 39 off 44 balls -- becoming the first Bangladesh woman to tally 2,000 runs in T20Is -- but she fought a lone battle till the final over as the innings kept losing steam.

In reply, West Indies' inspirational captain and opener Hayley Matthews struck a crisp 22-ball 34, laced with six boundaries, while the rest played their part. Near the end, Deandra Dottin (19 off seven not out) relieved the Tigresses of their misery by capping off the victory with two consecutive sixes.

Bangladesh next play South Africa in Dubai on Saturday, hoping to win and improve their net run-rate considerably in the process.