Bangladesh have sealed a spot in the Women’s World T20 after defeating Scotland in the qualifier semi-finals. In the final match, they will face Ireland, who ended their seven-match winning streak earlier this month by winning the dead rubber clash of a three-match series.

The Tigresses won all their group encounters and qualified for the semi-finals as group A champions. Scotland, on the other hand, were the runners-up in Ireland’s group. Bangladesh have knocked them out of the fray with a 49-run win in the semi-final.

Batting first, the Asian champions registered 125 runs for six wickets. Bangladesh had a 51-run opening partnership at their disposal which set the stage for them to put up a fighting total. Both the openers, Shamima Sultana and Ayasha Rahman, made 20-odd runs each before Nigar Sultana top-scored for the side with an unbeaten innings of 31 runs.

Following Shamima’s run out, Bangladesh suffered a collapse in the batting line-up and lost four wickets in quick succession. Nigar then offered a sigh of relief for her team by stitching good partnerships with Fahima Khatun and Sanjida Islam.

Fahima made 15 runs before getting out by Scotland captain Kathryn Bryce and Sanjida was dismissed by Katie McGill for 19. Abtaha Maqsood and Priyanaz Chatterji also got their names among the wicket-takers scalping one and two wickets, respectively.

In reply, Scotland were disrupted by Bangladesh’s tight bowling and ended up scoring only 76 runs in 20 overs. Following an early wicket-fall, Sarah and Kathryn Bryce restored the innings for their team in a chase that never really got going.

Sarah made 31 and Kathryn added 21 runs to the total while the clinical Bangladesh bowling attack precipitated a collapse in the opponents’ batting line-up. From 51/2, Scotland ended up losing seven wickets on 76 as the rest of the batters failed to get into a double-digit score.

Nahida Akhter and Rumana Ahmed took two wickets apiece for Bangladesh. Bangladesh skipper Salma Kahtun also got a wicket to her name, alongside Fahima.

The final match between Bangladesh and Ireland will be held in Utrecht, on July 14.