An all-round performance by Rumana Ahmed saw Bangladesh women’s cricket team recorded their historic seven-wicket victory over defending champions India in the ninth match of Women’s T20 Asia Cup held on Wednesday at Kinrara Academy Oval in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia.
India eves have never suffered a loss at the hands of Bangladesh in any format of the game. But on Wednesday, Bangladesh broke the jinx to register their first-ever win over India.
Despite back-to-back wins, Bangladesh women are placed fourth in the points table with six points at a NRR of -0.270. India are still topping the table with same number of points at 3.428. Sri Lanka (second, 1.660) and Pakistan (third, 0.889) are placed ahead of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh women’s next match is against Thailand on Thursday and the last group match is against host Malaysia on June 9th. Tigresses will have golden opportunities to improve their run rates playing against two minnows.
Batting first after winning the toss, India lost both their openers — Smriti Mandhana and Mithali Raj — early in the innings. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma however added valuable runs to their total. Kaur top-scored with 37-ball 42 runs that was studded with six boundaries while Sharma made aggressive 32 runs off 28 balls laced with five boundaries.
Despite Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma’s flurry of strokes could not inspire their lower-order who were restricted due to Bangladesh’s bowlers bowling a good line and length, backed by some energetic fielding. Reigning Champions Indians were restricted to a healthy 141 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs.
Rumana Ahmed was the leading Bangladesh bowler as she claimed 3 for 21 runs. Salma Khatun chipped in with one wicket for 21 while three Indian batters were run out victims due to some brilliant fielding by Tigresses. .
In reply, Bangladesh lost their three wickets inside 50 runs but Fargana Hoque and Rumana Ahmed were in superb form as they rescued their side from troubled water and guided their team to historic victory with two balls and seven wickets to spare.
The duo shared an unbeaten 93-run for the third wicket stand after Bangladesh slipped 3 for 49 Fargana was in sublime touch as she composed her brilliant maiden fifty. She struck 46-ball off 52 runs dispatching the ball for five boundaries and one over boundary.
The main architect behind Bangladesh win Rumana quite rightly was adjudged as the player of the match remained unbeaten with a majestic 34-ball off 42-run studded with six eye catching boundaries.
Earlier Tigresses were given a flamboyant start by opener Sharmin Sultana who smashed her way to an aggressive 33 runs off 23 balls studded with seven brilliant boundaries. Ayesha Rahman with (12) and Nigar Sultana with (1) were the other Bangladesh batters who were dismissed by Indian bowlers inside eight overs.
The 142 is now Bangladesh women’s highest total in T20 Internationals. In 10 attempts, this is Tigresses’ first ever T20I win over India women.
