Joty, Salma hand Tigresses win in opening WC qualifier

A captain's knock from Nigar Sultana Joty was followed by impactful bowling from Salma Khatun and the rest as Tigresses began their T20 World Cup qualifying campaign with a 14-run win over Ireland Women at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

Batting first after winning the toss, the Tigresses' top-order clicked into gear as opener Shamima Sultana hit a 40-ball 48, laced with seven fours. Although other opener Murshida Khatun fell for 16, Shamima put on a 62-run stand with Joty for the second wicket.

Joty began her innings cautiously, picking up just nine runs in her first 22 deliveries but Shamima picked up the pace with two back-to-back fours off Eimear Richardson in the 14th over before falling prey leg-before to Laura Delany in the 15th over.

Sobhana Mostary was removed by Leah Paul in the 17th over but Joty came into her own in the death overs, first picking up 12 runs which included two fours off a 18th over bowled by Orla Prendergast, before hammering a six and two fours on the trot off Delany in the 19th over to pick up her half-century. Joty fell after a 53-ball 67, on the last delivery of the innings off Arlene Kelly but not before picking up two boundaries in the over as Bangladesh reached 143 for four. Joty struck 10 fours and a six during her knock.

Ireland began chase badly as Sanjida Akter Meghla castled Gaby Lewis for a duck in the second over before Salma got the better of Orla in the third over.

Amy Hunter's 33 off 32 deliveries kept Ireland in the game before Salma effected the run out to remove the opener in the 10th over. Delany fell to a stumping against Salma as Ireland lost four wickets for 70 but wickets kept tumbling from one end while Eimear kept the Irish hopes up till the 19th over. Once Eimear departed to a run out after a 26-ball 40, Ireland managed 129 all out.

Salma was the pick of the bowlers with three for 19 in four overs while Sanjida and Nahida Akter bagged two each. Scotland Women won the other match in the group against USA by 79 runs. The Tigresses will face Scotland in their second game on Monday.