Sports Bulletin Report
Colombo (Sri Lanka): Bangladesh banked on their bowling strength to outwit Pakistan in their opening ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 fixture by seven wickets as they chased the 130-run target with 113 balls to spare and seven wickets in hand here at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium on Thursday evening.
Opening batter Rubya Haider struck an unbeaten half-century (54 not out, 77b, 8x4s) while stitching a 62-run third-wicket stand with Nigar Sultana Joty (23, 44b, 5x4s) in the chase.
Left-handed Rubya – who was also making her ODI debut - shared an unbeaten 34-run stand with Sobhana Mostary (24 not out, 19b, 6x4s) as Bangladesh began their campaign on a winning note.
For Pakistan, Diana provided an early breakthrough with seven runs on the board before Rameen struck to remove Sharmin Akter as Bangladesh managed 35-2 in 12 overs. Fatima Sana removed Joty in the 25th over but in vain.
Earlier, Pakistan elected to bat first and were dealt two early blows as player of the match Marufa Akter castled Omaima Sohail and Rameen Shamim for golden ducks in the first over with just two runs on the board.
Muneeba Ali (17, 35b, 2x4s) and Rameen (23, 39b, 2x4s) then faced 63 balls to gather 42 runs together for the third wicket before Nahida Akter removed both in 12th and 14th over, respectively as Pakistan slid to 47-4.
Aliya Riaz then stitched 20 and 24 runs with Sidra Nawaz and Fatima (22, 33b, 3x4s), respectively before Pakistan went from 67-5 to 100-7 in 29.3 overs. No.9 batter Diana hit two fours to remain 16 not out off 22 balls as Pakistan folded for 129 in 38.3 overs.
Bangladesh’s Shorna Akter returned impressive figures of 3.3-3-5-3, while Marufa and Nahida picked up two wickets each. Rabeya Khan, Nishita Akter Nishi and Fahima Khatun dismissed one batter each.
Pakistan will face India in their second fixture on Sunday, 5 October at the same venue.
Scores in brief:
Bangladesh beat Pakistan by seven wickets at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo
Pakistan 129 all out, 38.3 overs (Rameen Shamim 23, Fatima Sana 22, Shorna Akter 3-5, Nahida Akter 2-19, Marufa Akter 2-31)
Bangladesh 131-3, 31.1 overs (Rubya Haider 54 not out, Sobhana Mostary 24 not out, Nigar Sultana 23; Diana Baig 1-14)
Player of the match – Marufa Akter (Bangladesh Women)
