Bangladesh qualified for the Women's ODI World Cup for the second consecutive time by the barest of margins despite a seven-wicket defeat against Pakistan in their last match of the qualifying campaign in Lahore on Saturday.

The Tigresses needed a victory to seal their second-ever World Cup spot, but a poor batting display saw concede a seven-wicket defeat against the already-qualified Pakistan, and in the process, suffering a bit of a blow to their net run-rate.  

The result kept the Tigresses waiting for the last match of the qualifying competition, with West Indies taking on Thailand and hoping to overtake Bangladesh on net run-rate.

Winning the toss, West Indies put Thailand in to bat, and bowled them out for 166 runs in 46.1 overs, despite a defiant 66-run knock from Natthakan Chantham.

Turned out, that innings from Chantham, which helped anchor Thailand's innings from 64 for two to 166 all out, kept Bangladesh in contention for one of the two spots from the six-team competition.

West Indies, having started the day with a much inferior net run-rate to Bangladesh's, were faced with a daunting task of chasing down the target between 10.1 and 11 overs. They had three scenarios to overtake Bangladesh's net run-rate – a win by 10.1 overs, a win with 170 runs on the board off 10.4 overs, and a win with 172 runs on the board off 11 overs.

West Indies started their chase with all guns blazing and continued to go for the target till the end. Photo: ICC

The Caribbean side took the target head on, going all guns blazing right from the word go, with captain Hayley Matthews (70 off 29), Qiana Joseph (26 off 12) and Chinelle Henry (48 off 17) keeping them on course for an incredible chase.

However, despite failing to achieve the first two targets with the score at 162 for four in 10.4 overs, West Indies were still in with a chance to get to 172 runs off 11 overs with a boundary off the next ball and a six off the final delivery.

But former captain Stefanie Taylor, perhaps unbeknownst of the equation, hit a six off the fifth delivery of the over, sealing the victory but in the process allowing Bangladesh (net run-rate of 0.639) finish ahead of West Indies (0.626).

Earlier in the day, Bangladesh put on their worst batting display against Pakistan, managing only 178 for nine in 50 overs, with Ritu Moni's 48 and Fahima Khatun's unbeaten 42 helping avoid utter humiliation.

Bangladesh all-rounder Fahima Khatun during her unbeaten 42 against Pakistan. Photo: ICC

In reply, Pakistan, powered by Muneeba Ali's 69 and an unbeaten 52 from Aliya Riaz, chased down the target in 39.4 overs and with six wickets in hand, leaving Bangladesh with a rollercoaster ride of emotions over the next few hours till the West Indies-Thailand fixture arrived at a dramatic conclusion.