ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2025: Day 9 – Pakistan Win; West Indies Narrowly Miss The Bus To The World Cup

Day 9 of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2025 delivered high stakes and heartbreak in equal measure. While Pakistan registered yet another win and sealed their spot in the World Cup in style with a commanding seven-wicket win over Bangladesh, the West Indies, despite a record-smashing chase against Thailand, fell agonizingly short of qualification. 

Their blistering six-wicket victory wasn’t enough to edge past Bangladesh on Net Run Rate, marking a historic moment as the Caribbean side misses out on a Women’s World Cup for the first time since 2000.

Match 14: Pakistan vs Bangladesh– Bangladesh Won By 7 Wickets

In the 14th match of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier held in Lahore, Pakistan secured a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh with 62 balls to spare. 

After winning the toss, Bangladesh opted to bat first but struggled to build any substantial partnerships, eventually crawling to 178 for 9 in their allotted 50 overs.

The Bangladesh innings got off to a shaky start as Fargana Hoque departed for a duck in the third over, bowled by Fatima Sana. Dilara Akter showed early promise with a couple of crisp boundaries but was soon dismissed for 13. 

Captain Nigar Sultana couldn’t stabilize the innings either, falling LBW to Fatima Sana for just 1, leaving Bangladesh reeling at 21 for 3 within the first seven overs. Sharmin Akhter’s patient 24 and Ritu Moni’s resilient 48 provided some much-needed stability in the middle overs, but Pakistan’s bowlers maintained a stranglehold throughout. 

Nahida Akter’s 19 from 51 balls and a gritty 44 not out by Fahima Khatun helped Bangladesh inch closer to the 180-mark. 

Despite regular breakthroughs, Pakistan’s disciplined bowling unit, spearheaded by Sadia Iqbal’s 3 for 28, Fatima Sana and Diana Baig with two wickets each, and economical spells from Nashra Sandhu and Rameen Shamim, restricted the flow of runs effectively.

Pakistan’s chase began with an early hiccup as Shawaal Zulfiqar was trapped LBW by Marufa Akter off just the second ball of the innings. However, that proved to be the only bright spot for Bangladesh in the field. 

From there, Muneeba Ali and Sidra Amin crafted a steady partnership of 80 runs for the second wicket. Muneeba, who was eventually named Player of the Match, anchored the innings with a composed 69 off 93 balls, striking eight boundaries and displaying excellent control. 

Sidra Amin contributed 33 before falling to Rabeya Khan, and although Muneeba was dismissed shortly after crossing 150, the momentum had already shifted decisively in Pakistan’s favour.

Aliya Riaz ensured there were no further stumbles, compiling a fluent unbeaten 52 off 65 deliveries, including six fours and a six. Natalia Pervaiz supported her with 13 not out as the pair guided Pakistan to 181 for 3 in just 39.4 overs. 

Bangladesh’s bowlers failed to maintain pressure, with only Nahida Akter, Rabeya Khan, and Marufa Akter managing a wicket each. Rabeya stood out with an economical spell of 1 for 25 from her 10 overs.

It was a clinical performance by Pakistan, who outplayed Bangladesh in all departments — with the ball, in the field, and while chasing — to notch up another emphatic win in their World Cup Qualifier campaign and end it without a single loss to emerge as champions.

Match 15: Thailand vs West Indies– West Indies Won By 6 Wickets

In a match that carried immense stakes, West Indies delivered a ruthless performance against Thailand at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, chasing down a modest target of 167 in just 10.5 overs to win by six wickets. 

However, despite their clinical finish, heartbreak awaited them as they missed out on qualification for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 by a minuscule Net Run Rate (NRR) margin of 0.013 to Bangladesh. It marks the first time since 2000 that the West Indies will not feature in a World Cup, a sobering blow for a side that had reached the semi-finals of the 2022 edition.

Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, West Indies made early inroads into the Thailand batting line-up. A tight and disciplined spell by Afy Fletcher, who returned figures of 4 for 20 in her 10 overs, broke the backbone of Thailand’s innings. 

Thailand’s top order showed brief resilience with Nattaya Boochatham (29), Chanida Sutthiruang (21), and Natthakan Chantham holding the innings together with a patient 66 off 98 balls. However, regular wickets kept pegging them back. 

Thailand crumbled from 66 for 2 to 132 for 8, with Aaliyah Alleyne also impressing with the ball, picking up 3 for 41. The last real stand came from Chantham who, despite her gritty fifty, found little support. The innings folded at 166 in 46.1 overs.

Set a target of 167 to chase in under 10 overs to surpass Bangladesh’s NRR, West Indies came out with aggressive intent. 

Hayley Matthews, the captain, led from the front in a blazing innings that underlined her class and urgency. She smashed 70 off just 29 balls, with 11 fours and 2 sixes, scoring at a staggering strike rate of 241.37. Her fifty came up in just 21 balls, laying the foundation for what looked like a miracle run-chase. 

She found able support from Qiana Joseph, who blasted 26 off 12, and Chinelle Henry, who tore into the Thai attack with a brutal 48 off 17 balls, including 5 sixes. Despite the loss of Matthews in the seventh over and a couple of late wickets, the damage had been done early.

The Thailand bowlers had no answers to the West Indian onslaught, conceding runs at an alarming rate. All four bowlers used—Maya, Boochatham, Sutthiruang, and Putthawong—were taken to the cleaners, with none able to keep their economy under 14.00. Phannita Maya, who picked up the wicket of Henry, ended with 1 for 40 in just 2.5 overs, but it was a forgettable outing for the Thai bowling unit overall.

The West Indies reached the target in 10.5 overs, scoring at an astonishing rate of 15.50 runs per over. But when the calculators came out, the equation didn’t work in their favour. 

Despite their heroics, their NRR was 0.013 short of Bangladesh’s, who edged them out for the final qualifying spot. Matthews was named Player of the Match for her all-round performance—70 off 29 and 1 for 54 with the ball—while Scotland’s Kathryn Bryce, with 293 runs and 6 wickets in the tournament, was named Player of the Series.

It was a match that encapsulated the heartbreak and ecstasy of cricket. West Indies played like champions on the day, but it wasn’t enough to erase the earlier damage. 

Their absence from the 2025 World Cup will be a glaring one, especially considering their proud legacy and their 2022 World Cup semi-final appearance where they were ousted by the eventual champions Australia. 

For Thailand, the result marked the end of a spirited campaign, and while they couldn’t halt the West Indies juggernaut, their development and composure under pressure bode well for the future.

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