At Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS), watched by another fantastic crowd of local support, Sri Lanka took to the field as Bangladesh elected to bat first under the bright sunshine.

Of the most recent meetings between the two sides, five in total, Sri Lanka have come out on top all five times and today looked to be no different in the showdown between the two Asia sides. Sri Lanka's opening bowler Udeshika Prabhodani had the hosts reeling at 13 for three, with the departure of key players Ayesha Akhter, Fargana Pinky and Suktara Rahaman.

It was then up to Salma Khatun to lead from the front with the captain striking 32 before she was caught by the ever athletic Sherina Ravikumar. Things didn't get much better for the hosts as they managed to make just 100 in less than 50 overs as once again Sri Lanka's bowlers continued to hit the target and the side's fielding remained tight.

In reply, Dilani Manodara's side stumbled in the beginning and struggled to secure runs thanks to some tight bowling by the hosts. Yashoda Mendis departed early but Inoka Galagedara and Sandamali Dolawatte ensured the runs were on the board and after their departure it was up to Shashikala Siriwardene to hit the side's winning runs and secure ICC Women's World Cup qualification for 2013.

'I'm delighted that we've secured a place at the ICC Women's World Cup 2013 and retained our ODI status, it was our main target when we came out to Dhaka. Now we have that, our next target is to win the tournament and improve our global ranking.

'We knew today that if our bowlers restricted the side to below 200 we would do well and the best score Bangladesh have against us in 190 which was in Sri Lanka. I do think they are a much improved side but today was our day in the field. It was disappointing that we lost wickets again early on but this can only be improved upon.

'We knew that it was a slow wicket and coming out second to bat it would only get slower and would take to the turn, but we finished the job and secured our win and a place at the World Cup,' said Manodara at the conclusion of the game at Mirpur.

Bangladesh captain Salma, was disappointed with the loss but still had ODI status in her sights for the side. The all-rounder secured Player of the Match from the on-field umpires, Richard Smith and Kathy Cross, for her all-round performance in a day which saw a team-effort by both sides.

'I'm obviously disappointed that we have lost out on ICC Women's World Cup qualification but we have to remain positive and make sure we qualify for ODI status which is our next task.

'Today our batting didn't perform and we should have made more runs but once again the Sri Lankans were very tight in the field against us. We should have batted better out there today, their bowling was good but runs were there to be scored and we didn't make them.

'The biggest difference I have found playing against the stronger sides in this tournament has been the fact that they have played a lot more cricket than we have, some of the sides here have had well established women cricket for over 20 years, whereas we have only been playing regularly for about five years,' said Salma.

Japan took on Zimbabwe in the ninth/10th play-off at BKSP 2. Neither side had secured a win in the tournament ahead of the fixture today but it was Japan's chance with Kuribayashi's side finishing the victors over their African opponents in a tight contest.

Having won the toss, Sharne Mayers elected to field first for the Zimbabweans and the side's bowling attack took its time to get going, with Japan not losing its first wicket till it had posted 42 runs on the board after Mariko Yamamoto made a patient 38. However, Yamamoto departed after she was clean bowled by Sinikwe Mpofu.

Kuribayashi led by example, the 28-year-old left-hander, was also patient in her innings, taking 98 balls to reach 47, her highest score of the tournament. Zimbabwe's bowlers did a good job with Japan's lower order, dismissing the last five Japanese wickets for 27 runs but not before Japan had posted its highest total of the tournament, 153.

In reply, Zimbabwe's batters were undone by the quickness of the Japanese in the field and good bowling from Kuribayashi. The captain claimed one wicket but also caught both Christabel Chatonzwa and Privilledge Charumbira and was key in the run-out of her counterpart Mayers. Yamamoto also showed her agility by snaffling key middle-order batter Nonhlanhla Nyathi caught and bowled.

As was the case against USA, Zimbabwe fell short of its target, although in this case by six runs and succumbed to fifth and final loss in the event. Audrey Mazvishaya and Sarah Dambanevana were well placed to score the remaining runs but the side ran out of overs after losing key wickets early on and victory was there for Japan to savour for the first time.