India thrash Bangladesh to book ICC Women's World Cup berth

Colombo, Feb. 17: India thrashed Bangladesh by nine wickets in a qualifying match at Nondescripts Cricket Club ground here on Friday to book their place for the ICC women's World Cup 2017 to be held in England and Wales from June 24. Maintaining their unbeaten run in the ongoing ICC women's World Cup qualifier, the Mithali Raj-led team took their Super Six points tally to eight, including for two wins against other qualifiers from its preliminary league group, points of which are carried over. Pace bowler Mansi Joshi and leg-spinner Devika Vaidya shared five wickets between them to restrict Bangladesh to 155/8 after asking them to bat.Fargana Hoque top-scored for Bangladesh with 50 runs from 107 deliveries. In reply, India got to 158/1 in 33.3 overs with opener Mona Meshram striking a career-best 78 not out with 12 fours and Mithali compiling 73 not out with 10 fours for a 43rd ODI half-century. In other matches, South Africa also booked their place in the ICC women's World Cup by beating hosts Sri Lanka by nine wickets at the P. Sara Stadium while Pakistan also beat Ireland by 86 runs at the Colombo Cricket Club ground here.