Sports Desk: The smiling Nahida Akhter became the man of the match by picking up five wickets for just eight runs against Pakistan in the first of the three-match T20 series at the Zahoor Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong today (October 25).
Bangladesh women’s cricket team defeated Pakistan by 5 wickets in the first of the three-match T20I series at the Zahoor Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Wednesday (October 25). In response to 83 runs, the Tigresses reached the port of victory with five wickets in hand in 19.3 overs. Captain Nigar Sultana Jyoti remains unbeaten with 26 runs off 28 balls for the team. Earlier, after losing the toss and going to bat, Nahida Akhtar’s ball ended Pakistan’s girls’ innings for only 82 runs in 19.4 overs. Nahida Akhter was the man of the match, picking up five wickets at the cost of only eight runs. Jyoti’s next match is on Friday at the same venue.
Two openers from Bangladesh, Shamima Sultana and Murshida Khatun, started batting after seeing the target of 83 runs in Chittagong. But after 12 runs, Shamima went back after being run out. He scored five runs on nine balls. Then Murshida paired up with Sobhana Mushtari. Sobhana returned with 16 runs off 24 balls from Umm Hani. Bangladesh was under a bit of pressure when Murshida returned after the team scored 57 runs. He scored 22 runs in two fours off 39 balls with a catch from Nashra Sandhu. However, the Tigresses reached the port of victory with three balls and five wickets in their hands, thanks to the responsible batting of Nigar Sultana Jyoti. Jyoti remains unbeaten with 26 off 3 fours off 28 balls.
After winning the toss and sending Pakistan to bat, Tiger spinner Nahida Akhtar struck early. He directly bowled the Pakistan opener, Amin, at the head of the team’s 16 runs. Then he returned another opener, Muniba Ali. This wicketkeeper batsman scored 16 runs off 3 fours in 19 balls. Pak captain Nida Dar returned after 14 runs after being bowled by Rabair. Maruf was run out in the next over. He scored 20 runs on 29 balls. Then Alia Riaz and Isha Javed were picked up by Swarna Akhtar and Sultana Khatun, respectively. Natalia Parvez scored 15 off 16 balls before returning to suffer a second run-out. Nahida Akhtar took the last three wickets of the visitors and made 82 in 19.4 overs. The left-arm spinner picked up 5 wickets for just 8 runs in 3.4 overs. Apart from this, Rabeya, Sultana, and Swarna got one wicket each.
On October 27 and 29, the remaining two matches will be T20 matches at the Shahid Zahoor Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong. All matches will be day and night. A three-match ODI series will be held at Mirpur Sher Bangla Stadium on November 4, 7, and 10. In the ODI Championship, Bangladesh girls are at number eight with 7 points out of 10 teams after winning only 1 out of 9 matches. Among them, three lost, one tied, and four were abandoned.
