Pacific MMI PNG Lewas defeated by Bangladesh at ICC WWT20 Qualifier

A resilient Pacific MMI PNG Lewas outfit lost their final pool match against the undefeated Bangladesh team at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s World T20 Qualifier by 41 runs in Bangkok yesterday.

Needing a win against the powerful Bangladesh team to advance to the Semi Finals of the Tournament, the Pacific MMI PNG Lewas won the toss and sent the Bangladeshi women into bat on another humid day in Bangkok. The previously strong batting line-up of Bangladesh struggled to get the get the Pacific MII PNG Lewas’ bowlers away, eventually restricting them to 7/100 off their allotted 20 overs. Kari Seura was the star with the ball taking 2/2 off three overs, including the prize wickets of Ayasha Rahman (5) and Rumana Ahmed (8). Four other Pacific MMI PNG Lewas’ picked up a wicket each.

In reply, the Pacific MMI PNG Lewas struggled to get any real momentum in their batting against a strong bowling unit, losing wickets on regular intervals to be eventually bowled out for 59 in the 20th over. Tanya Ruma (12) and Veru Frank (13*) were the only Pacific MMI PNG Lewas’ batswomen to score double figures. Khadija Kubra (5/11) and Rumana Ahmed (3/13) were the chief destroyers for the Bangladesi team taking eight wickets between them.

This defeat meant that the Pacific MMI PNG Lewas finished in third place behind Bangladesh and Scotland in Pool A, meaning that they missed out on qualifying for the Semi Finals. The Pacific MMI PNG Lewas will take on Netherlands in the Shield Semi Final on Thursday 3rd December at the Asian Institue of Technology (AIT) Ground, with the winner advancing to the Shield Final against the winner of the other Semi Final between China and Thailand.

The ICC Women’s World T20 Qualifier involves eight (8) teams, with teams divided into two (2) groups of four (4) teams. The top two (2) teams of each group after the preliminary stage will advance to the semi finals. The winners of the semi-finals will not only move into the final, but also advance to the 2016 ICC Women’s World Twenty20 in India.