Bangladesh initiated their ICC Women's World Cup 2025 campaign with a commanding seven-wicket victory against Pakistan in Colombo on Thursday. The win showcased a balanced performance from the Bangladesh team, with significant contributions from both the bowlers and the batters.
Pakistan, after winning the toss and electing to bat first, struggled to build momentum and suffered a batting collapse, ultimately being bowled out for a meager 129 in 38.3 overs. Only Rameen Shamim (23) and Fatima Sana (22) managed to reach double figures, highlighting the struggles of the Pakistani batting lineup. Marufa Akter's fiery spell triggered Pakistan's collapse. The wickets fell at regular intervals, preventing any substantial partnerships from forming.
Bangladesh's bowling attack proved too strong for Pakistan, with Shorna Akter leading the charge by taking three crucial wickets for just 5 runs. Her outstanding performance included two consecutive wicket-maiden overs, putting immense pressure on the Pakistani batters. Marufa Akter and Nahida Akter also contributed significantly, picking up two wickets each to further restrict Pakistan's scoring opportunities. Marufa Akter was named Player of the Match.
Chasing a target of 130, Bangladesh started cautiously, reaching 23 for one after the first 10 overs. Opener Fargana Hoque was dismissed early, but Rubya Haider and Sharmin Akhter steadied the ship. After Akhter was outfoxed, Rubya Haider and skipper Nigar Sultana Joty forged a crucial 62-run partnership for the third wicket, steering Bangladesh closer to the target. Haider, playing a composed innings, brought up her fifty with a boundary.
Rubya Haider remained unbeaten on 54 off 77 balls, demonstrating resilience and skill. Her innings included eight boundaries. She initially played with caution but accelerated once she ভালোভাবে оценила pitch. Nigar Sultana contributed a steady 23 before being dismissed by Fatima Sana. Sobhana Mostary provided the finishing touches with a quickfire 24 not out, including the winning boundary, securing the victory in just 31.1 overs.
Bangladesh's captain, Nigar Sultana Joty, felt that losing the toss might have worked in their favor, as they would have opted to bat first anyway. She emphasized the importance of taking wickets during the Powerplay, which they executed well. Nigar praised Marufa Akter, describing her as young yet mature and confident in her role, and commended her incredible bowling performance. She also highlighted Rubya Haider's impressive debut batting performance.
Pakistan's captain, Fatima Sana, reflected on the match, acknowledging that losing early wickets was a turning point. She emphasized the need for the team to bounce back and execute their plans better in the next match. Fatima noted that some players were experiencing their first World Cup, which added pressure, but she urged her team to believe in themselves, as every player has the potential to be a match-winner. She also mentioned that the pitch favored the fast bowlers.
This victory marks a positive start for Bangladesh in the ICC Women's World Cup 2025. They will look to build on this momentum as they progress through the tournament. The next match will be between England Women and South Africa Women on October 3rd.
