Bangladesh women
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IND-W vs BAN-W 1st ODI: Bangladesh defeats India By 40 Runs

The Bangladesh national women’s cricket team made history on Sunday, beating India for the first time in a One Day International. Bangladesh won the first match of the three-match ODI series in Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium by a 40-run margin (Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method). India were bowled out for 113 in 35.5 overs while chasing a revised goal of 154. Marufa Akter, a pace bowler, struck first blood for Bangladesh by dismissing opener Smriti Mandhana (11) with the last ball of the third over.

The visitors were bowled out for 113 in 35.5 overs after being asked to chase a score of 153 in 44 overs. Earlier, Amanjot Kaur’s four-wicket haul helped India restrict Bangladesh to 152/9 in 43 overs in the rain-shortened first ODI. Due to rain, the match has been truncated to 44 overs each side. Bangladesh’s captain, Nigar Sultana, scored 39 points, while Hoque Fargana scored 27.

Nahida Akter caught skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (five) in front for an important wicket. The dismissal of two veteran hitters, Mandhana and Harmanpreet, within 10 overs gave Bangladesh complete control of the 154-run objective. Bangladesh spinners bowled closely and took wickets at critical times to put strain on India’s extended batting order.

Deepti Sharma and Amanjot Kaur attempted to establish something for India, forming a 30-run partnership, but Marufa did the trick again in her second stint for Bangladesh. She took two wickets in two balls in the 29th over to dramatically turn the game in Bangladesh’s favour, reducing India from 91/5 to 91/8 in quick succession.

Marufa’s 4/29 is the greatest bowling total by a Bangladeshi pacer in women’s international cricket, surpassing Lata Mondol’s 4/35 against Pakistan in 2014. Earlier, Bangladesh scored 152 but lost all of their wickets in 43 overs when India chose to bowl first. Nigar Sultana Joty led the women in red and green with 39 points, while Fargana Hoque Pinky had 27.

India leads the table with 12 points after seven games, and this was their first loss in the Women’s Championship cycle. Bangladesh has 6 points. Bangladesh won their first ODI series in seven attempts as part of the International Cricket Council Women’s Championship cycle.

Harmanpreet Kaur: “We had given at least 20 runs extra. We bowled many loose balls and were not up to the mark. Obviously, in the batting department, nobody took responsibility. No, we are not weak against legspinners but they were really good. We need to focus on rotating the strike, we have done well in ODIs.”

Nigar Sultana: “We thought we were short by 30 runs. It was the middle order and lower order runs that helped. We wanted to bowl them out inside 120. Our bowling was brilliant. Exceptional fielding too. We are proud. Our plan was to get early wickets. We just wanted to execute our plans. I am very much happy that we have every kind of bowler. Marufa is very talented, young and fresh, she makes my job easier. She doesn’t think too much and just bowls according to plans.”

Marufa Akter, the Player of the Match: “Firstly, our batters did well in these conditions. My target was to hit some good lengths, so I can do something useful for the team. Since I did well at the start with the new ball, the onus was on me to do finish well with the old ball. All the seniors in the team support me and love me, maybe that’s why I did well today.”

Farzeen K

Farzeen K

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