New Delhi: An unbeaten half-century from Rubya Haider, along with a key partnership with skipper Nigar Sultana and impressive bowling from young pacer Marufa Akter, guided Bangladesh to a convincing seven-wicket victory over a struggling Pakistan in their match opener in ICC Women’s World Cup match in Colombo on Thursday.
Haider scored a brilliant 54 off 77 balls, which included eight fours, and also added 62 runs for the third wicket with Sultana, who smashed 23 off 44 balls, as Bangladesh chased down the target of 130 easily, finishing at 131 for 3 in 31.1 overs with 113 balls to left.
Rubya played steadily at the beginning
Rubya played steadily at the beginning after as opener Fargana Hoque and Sharmin Akhter got dismissed early but as was set at the craese, the 28-year-old smashed several boundaries and made chase look easy.
She smashed three boundaries in the 19th over bowled by experienced Pakistan left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu turning the game in Bangladesh’s favour. Bangladesh started their innings on a disappointing note as they scored only 23 runs in 10 over.
Bangladesh bowlers displayed disciplined bowling
Bangladesh bowlers displayed disciplined bowling throughout the match as young pacer Marufa Akter picked 2 wickets conceding 31 runs, veteran spinner Nahida Akter took 2 wicket for 19 runs, while Shorna Akter grabbed 3 wickets conceding only 5 runs which paved the way for their team’s victory, as Pakistan were bowled out for 129 in 38.3 overs.
It was Marufa who sparked Pakistan’s collapse, as the 20-year-old right-arm pacer delivered a huge blow in the very first over by dismissing opener Omaima Sohail and experienced batter Sidra Amin for ducks on their first balls, leaving Pakistan at a disappointing score of 2/2.
Nahida Akhter dismissed Pakistan’s opener
Experienced slow left-arm spinner Nahida Akter (2/19) added more pressure as she dismissed opener Muneeba Ali (17) and Rameen Shamim (23) quickly just after the powerplay overs, thus crushing the hopes of forming a partnership.
Pakistan found themselves in trouble at 41/2 after 10 overs, with Marufa orchestrating the collapse. She was playing her 27th WODI, completely shocked Pakistan with the new ball.
She began with a full-length inswinging delivery just outside off-stump that knocked Omaima Sohail’s leg stump, and on the very next ball, picked the prized wicket of experienced batter Sidra Amin. Attempting a drive, Amin was beaten by the sharp inswing and lost her leg stump.
Pakistan’s other opener Muneeba Ali was trying to settle on the crease after smashing two boundaries in the fourth over off right-arm spinner Nishita Akter Nishi, but she was dismissed, leaving the team at 44/3.
Pakistan lost wickets at regular interval
Rameen Shamim too departed two overs later as Pakistan were 47/4 in the 14th over. Pakistan’s run rate never increased, as they continued to lose wickets at regular intervals while Bangladesh strategically rotated their bowlers to keep the batting side off balance.
Pakistan struggled to maintain a run rate above four runs per over, and they reached the 100-run mark only in the 30th over and managed just 14 boundaries in their innings, while leg-spinner Shorna Akter finished off Pakistan’s innings in 38.3 overs.
Story Highlight
An unbeaten half-century from Rubya Haider, along with a key partnership with skipper Nigar Sultana and impressive bowling from young pacer Marufa Akter, guided Bangladesh to a convincing seven-wicket victory over a struggling Pakistan
Rubya played steadily at the beginning after as opener Fargana Hoque and Sharmin Akhter got dismissed early but as was set at the craese
Bangladesh bowlers displayed disciplined bowling throughout the match as young pacer Marufa Akter picked 2 wickets conceding 31 runs.
