An exciting fixture awaits at the iconic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore as Bangladesh Women lock horns with Ireland Women in Match 7 of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2025. Scheduled to begin at 2:30 PM IST on April 13th, this encounter carries massive importance, especially for the Irish side.
Ireland enters this clash in desperate need of a win after suffering back-to-back defeats in their first two matches. A third consecutive loss could severely dent their hopes of progressing in the tournament, making this a do-or-die affair. On the other hand, Bangladesh Women are riding high on confidence after a commanding 178-run victory over Thailand in their tournament opener.
Squads:
Bangladesh Women’s Cricket Team
Nigar Sultana Joty (C), Nahida Akter, Ishma Tanjim, Dilara Akter, Sharmin Akter Supta, Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter, Jannatul Ferdus Sumona, Rabeya, Fahima Khatun, Fariha Islam Trisna, Farzana Haque, Shanjida Akther Maghla, Marufa Akter, Ritu Moni
Ireland Women’s Cricket Team
Gaby Lewis (C), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Sarah Forbes, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Sophie MacMahon, Jane Maguire, Kia McCartney, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast
Players to watch out:
Sharmin Akter
The experienced batter was in sublime touch against Thailand, scoring a solid 94 off 126 deliveries and forming a record-breaking 152-run partnership with skipper Nigar Sultana. In 42 ODIs, she has amassed 957 runs, with her highest being 96.
Fahima Khatun
The leg-spinning all-rounder delivered a career-best performance with figures of 5/21 in the previous match. Her ability to break partnerships makes her a key asset. She has featured in 45 ODIs, taking 32 wickets and scoring 242 runs, with the best of 46*.
Jane Maguire
One of Ireland’s most consistent bowlers in this tournament so far, she picked 3/33 against Pakistan and followed it up with 3/35 against West Indies. Notably, she dismissed both Stafanie Taylor and Zaida James within three balls. She now has 15 wickets from 20 ODIs, with a best of 3/33.
Christina Coulter Reilly
After a modest start against Pakistan where she scored 4(7), Reilly bounced back with a fluent 26(29) against West Indies, nearly guiding her team to victory in a narrow 6-run loss. In her brief ODI career of 7 matches, she has scored 156 runs with a personal best of 80.
Pitch:
The surface at Gaddafi Stadium typically favors batters in the early stages of the match, offering good pace and bounce. In women’s ODIs, the average first-innings score at this venue stands at approximately 236, indicating a competitive pitch where bowlers need to be clever with variations.
Weather:
Lahore is set to witness clear skies on match day, with almost no chance of rain disrupting play. The temperature is expected to hover around 34°C, with moderate humidity levels (around 52%) and light breezes at about 8 km/h. Fans can look forward to a complete game.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Nigar Sultana, Fargana Hoque, Gaby Lewis, Sharmin Akter, Orla Prendergast, Arlene Kelly, Fahima Khatun, Nahida Akter, Cara Murray, Jane Maguire, and Rabeya Khan
Match details:
Date – April 13, 2025
Time – 02:30 PM IST
Venue – Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Live Streaming – Fans can catch all the live action on the FanCode app and website.
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