West Indies Crush Bangladesh in T20 World Cup Clash

West Indies bolstered their T20 World Cup semi-final aspirations with a convincing eight-wicket victory over Bangladesh which nearly eliminated the latter from the tournament. Captain Hayley Matthews led from the front, scoring a brisk 34 runs off 22 balls as the West Indies chased down Bangladesh’s total of 104 with 7.1 overs to spare. Bowler Karishma Ramharack shone for the Windies taking 4 wickets for just 17 runs, igniting a dramatic collapse in the Bangladeshi lineup from 73-2 to 103-8.

This victory improved the West Indies’ net run-rate and placed them at the top of Group B sharing four points with South Africa and England, the latter having played one game less. The West Indies will enhance their chances of reaching the semi-finals with a win against England in their final group match on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Bangladesh must defeat South Africa convincingly in their last group game on Saturday and rely on favorable outcomes from other matches.

West Indies won the toss and immediately exerted pressure on Bangladesh, who struggled to score runs against the tight spin attack. In contrast, the West Indies raced to 48-0 by the end of the powerplay. Although Marufa Akter dismissed Matthews in the eighth over, the team was well on its way to surpassing Bangladesh’s score. Stafanie Taylor made a notable contribution with 27 runs while Shemaine Campbelle added 21. Deandra Dottin finished the game in style with a six.

Karishma Ramharack named player of the match, praised the team’s patience and discipline. Bangladesh’s captain, Nigar Sultana Joty acknowledged that their dot balls and losing back-to-back wickets hampered their innings while Matthews emphasized the need for continued discipline as they prepare for their crucial final match.