Sports Reporter :
Opener Sharmin Akhter of Bangladesh Women’s Cricket team remained unbeaten with 130 against the United States of America (USA) in their match of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup qualifier at Harare in Zimbabwe on Tuesday. Sharmin Akhter hit 11 fours in her 141-ball innings. It is for the first time that, a Bangladeshi female cricketer struck century in any ODI match.
Bangladesh Women’s Cricket team piled up a mammoth total of 322 for the loss of five wickets in the allotted 50 overs. Sharmin Akhter played 26 ODI matches. The right-hand batter, who is from Gaibandha is 25 years old. Earlier, her highest score was 74.
She has three half-centuries in her ODI campaign.
Earlier, Bangladesh Women’s Cricket team made an auspicious start in their World Cup qualifier beating Pakistan by three wickets at Harare in Zimbabwe on November 21. Sharmin Akhter scored 31 runs in that match.
But on Tuesday, Sharmin Akhter and Murshida Khatun posted 96 runs in the opening stand before Murshida Khatun was bowled out by Mahika Kandanala of the USA for 47 runs.
After Murshida’s dismissal, Sharmin and Nigar Sultana contributed together 48 runs for the second wicket partnership before Nigar was run out by Gargi Bhogle for 33 runs when Bangladesh’s score was 144 for the loss of two wickets. After Nigar’s departure, Sharmin and Fargana Haque put on together 137 runs for the third wicket partnership before Fargana was dismissed for 67 when Bangladesh’s total was 281 for the loss of three wickets.
Bangladesh lost more two wickets but Sharmin remained unbeaten before Bangladesh’s innings came to an end.
Earlier, Salma Khatun notched up 75 (not out) against India at Ahmadabad in India in 2013 which was the highest individual score for a female batter of Bangladesh. Her compatriot Rumana Ahmed also scored 75 against their same opponents at the same venue in the next match.
