UNB, Cox’s Bazar :
A career best six-wicket haul by spinner Khadija Tul Kubra enabled hosts Bangladesh Women’s team to win the one-off ODI beating touring Pakistan Women’s team by six wickets at the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in the country’s premier tourist town of Cox’s Bazar on Monday.
It will be a moral boost for Bangladesh Women’s team ahead of the Women’s World Cup Cricket after being whitewashed in the four-match T20 series against Pakistan at the same venue.
It was a brilliant comeback for Bangladesh women’s team, which were whitewashed 0-3 in T20I series against Pakistan only two days ago. The win on Monday was only their eighth in ODIs and their first since they beat Ireland in February 2017. Pakistani captain Javeria Khan opted to bat first after winning the toss, but her decision backfired as Pakistan were bundled out cheaply for 94 runs in 34.5 overs, their 2nd lowest against Bangladesh, against devastating bowling by Bangladeshi spinner Khadija Tul Kubra.
Only three Pakistani batters-one down Javeria Khan (29), two openers Ayesha Zafar (18) and Muneeba Ali (18) were able to reach the double figure.
The 23-year-old right arm off-break bowler from Bogura, Khadija virtually laid the foundation of the much-needed victory against Pakistan grabbing her career best six-wicket haul conceding only 20 runs in her 9.5 over spell with one maiden and was adjudged player of the match.
Khadija became the first Bangladesh bowler and the 14th overall to take six or more wickets in women’s ODIs. Coming in as the third-change bowler, Khadija removed Ayesha Zafar in the 15th over before accounting for Nida Dar, Umaima Sohail, captain Javeria Khan, Sidra Nawaz and Nashra Sandhu.
Bangladesh captain Rumana Ahmed took two wickets for 15 runs to dismiss the Pakistan in their 2nd lowest score against Bangladesh.
Chasing an easy target, Bangladesh faced an initial batting collapse losing two wickets for just six runs in 3.4 overs, but an 81-run 3rd wicket partnership between captain Rumana Ahmed and one down Fargana Haque sealed the fate of the match proving the Pakistani total inadequate.
Fargana was the dominant partner, scoring match highest 48 runs off 81 balls featuring three boundaries while Rumana made 70-ball 34 runs with two fours in addition to her two wickets.
When the duo finally departed in quick succession on the same score of 78 runs in 27.2 over, Bangladesh required only eight more runs to win, which were shrugged off by Lata Mondal (3) and Fahima Khatun (5) enabling the hosts to win the match with 21 overs to spare.
