South Africa cruise past Bangladesh

A clinical bowling display by South Africa bundled Bangladesh out for 100, a total they chased with six wickets in hand and 148 balls to spare in the Women's World Cup Qualifier in Colombo. Bangladesh were set back in the first over, losing Sharmin Sultana off the third ball of the match. Two more quick wickets reduced Bangladesh to 8 for 3 in the fifth over. They never recovered thereon.

Captain Rumana Ahmed top-scored with 39 off 93 balls. Fast bowler Shabnim Ismail and legspinner Sune Luus claimed three wickets each, while Dane van Niekerk returned two wickets in an economical spell. Openers Lizelle Lee (34) and Laura Wolvaardt (30) shared a 50-run stand in 60 balls to ease South Africa towards the target. Even though Bangladesh picked up regular wickets, their total was not nearly enough.

Sri Lanka completed an eight-wicket win over Zimbabwe in Colombo, a result that took them closer to the Super Six and to second place in Group A.

Zimbabwe got off to a slow start after electing to bat, with the openers putting on 30 in 13.3 overs, before falling off consecutive overs. The breakthrough was made by left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera, who returned later to take wickets off the 32nd, 34th, and 36th over to leave Zimbabwe struggling at 96 for 6. Ranaweera, who finished with 4 for 18, was supported by medium-pacers Chamari Kumarihami (2-21) and Chamari Atapattu (2-21). For Zimbabwe, Mary-Anne Musonda top-scored with 32; only two other batsmen got into the twenties as they folded for 149. In response, Sri Lanka were powered by an opening stand of 77 and an unbroken 57 for the third wicket as they chased the target down with 69 balls to spare. Atapattu followed up her two wickets with a 58, while Kumarihami (27*) and Prasadani Weerakkody (33*) took them home.

Ireland strengthened their chances of a place in the Super Six stage with a 46-run win over Thailand in Colombo, riding on fifties from Kim Garth and their captain Laura Delany and a three-wicket haul from seamer Lucy O'Reilly.

The foundation for Ireland's score of 218 for 7 was set by Garth and Delany who shared a 106-run partnership for the third wicket after the early loss of the openers. While Delany made 50 off 80 balls, Garth fell two runs short of a century when she was dismissed off the penultimate ball of the innings. Her 122-ball knock had nine fours and a six.

Ireland's bowlers then kept the pressure on Thailand, who were limited to 172 for 9 in their allotted overs. Nattaya Boochatham (44), Nannapat Koncharoenkai (18) and Sornnarin Tippoch (42) showed some resolve in keeping Ireland at bay after early wickets, with Boochatham and Koncharoenkai adding 61 for the third wicket. However, O'Reilly quick wickets in the lower order confirmed Ireland's win.

Scotland scraped through by seven runs against Papua New Guinea in a match where both teams were looking for their first win of the campaign.

Scotland's win was led by Kari Anderson, who took 3 for 35 and effected a run-out after PNG had won the toss and restricted them to 169. Anderson ran out PNG captain Pauke Siaka and took the wicket of top-scorer Brenda Tau (46) during the chase. She was supported by fellow medium-pacers Kirstie Gordon (2-27) and Priyanaz Chatterji (2-22), as the trio helped inflict a collapse that eventually saw PNG lose 10 for 90 - including two off the last over to Chatterji - after the openers had put on 72.

Earlier, Siaka had 6 for 19 with her medium-pace, assisted by offspinner Sibona Jimmy who bowled five maidens and conceded only 15 in her ten overs. Scotland's only notable partnership had been the 59 runs Anderson (26) had put on with top-scorer Rachel Scholes (35). Elizabeth Priddle (31) was the only other batsman to get into the thirties during Scotland's fifty-over innings.