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ZIMBABWE have missed out on a place at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s World Twenty20 India 2016 tournament, after going down to Bangladesh by 31 runs in a qualifier semi-final played today at the Terdthai Cricket Ground in Bangkok, Thailand.

With only the two teams that meet in this Saturday’s trophy final of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier Thailand 2015 making it to the tournament proper, Zimbabwe knew the last-four clash was going to be a real test of character, having lost to Bangladesh twice in warm-up matches a few weeks ago.

And they almost tore up the form book after asking Bangladesh to bat first and rattling their top order by dismissing their first three batters with just 10 runs on the board, as Josephine Nkomo struck twice in the fifth over.

But the Tigresses managed to weather the storm, with Sharmin Akhter and Fargana Hoque sharing a fourth-wicket stand of 51 that put them back in charge.

Although wicketkeeper Nonhlanhla Nyathi and Christabel Chatonzwa combined to run out Akhter on 22 as the Bangladeshis sought to up their run rate, Hoque remained resolute, bossing the crease on her way to a run-a-ball 43, the match’s top score.

After Hoque was run out by Nyathi with five balls to go, Ritu Moni and Jahanara Alam, unbeaten on nine and two respectively, saw out the innings, with Bangladesh finishing their 20 overs on 89 runs for five wickets.

Zimbabwe’s innings got off to a somewhat promising start, but it was totally a different story from the moment opener Modester Mupachikwa became the first wicket to fall when she was run out on nine with 14 runs on the board.

Spin once again proved to be Zimbabwe’s nemesis, with leg-spinner Rumana Ahmed weaving her magic and suffocating the chase with a four-wicket haul that duly won Bangladesh the match and earned her the player-of-the-match award.

The wickets of captain Chipo Mugeri (seven), Nkomo (four), Pellagia Mujaji (10) and Chatonzwa (three) saw Rumana finishing with impressive figures of four wickets for eight runs.

That Mujaji was the only Zimbabwean batter to reach a double figure probably tells the whole story.

But the Zimbabwean ladies, although disappointed at missing out on a berth in India next year, will definitely return home with their heads held high after putting in impressive performances during the qualifier tournament in Bangkok. – Zimcricket.