Bangladesh Overpowers Pakistan in Thrilling Low-Scoring Women’s ODI World Cup Victory
“Test match going on here. Come on, girls.”
In an era where World Cup conversations often revolve around 350-plus scores—or at least 250 on slower tracks—Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana’s remark at Pakistan encapsulated their forgettable start in the Women’s ODI World Cup at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Thursday.
A dramatic batting collapse left Pakistan reeling at 129, while Bangladesh, thanks to debutant Rubya Haider’s impressive maiden fifty, comfortably secured a seven-wicket win. Notably, this is only Bangladesh’s second victory in the tournament, with their first also against Pakistan in 2022.
AS IT HAPPENED | Pakistan vs Bangladesh Highlights
Fatima Sana and her team aimed to leverage the form of key batters to post a challenging total, but Marufa Akter, the only pacer chosen, had different intentions.
Her remarkable swing unsettled the openers, dismissing Omaima Sohail and Sidra Amin with consecutive deliveries in the opening over. This early jolt left Pakistan struggling.
Except for a painstakingly slow 42-run stand for the third wicket between left-handers Muneeba Ali and Rameen Shamim, who attempted to counter Marufa’s inswinger, Pakistan’s batting performance was underwhelming, with spinners contributing to an unattractive dot ball percentage of 69.
Fatima’s distracted mindset led to errant lines, though she challenged her opponents with two slips and packed offside fields. | Photo Credit: AP
Fatima’s distracted mindset led to errant lines, though she challenged her opponents with two slips and packed offside fields. | Photo Credit: AP
A few entertaining quips in Bangla from the captain helped lighten the mood.
If Pakistan’s innings simmered slowly, Bangladesh’s methodical approach tested the patience of reporters who hoped to file their reports promptly. Each misstep was witnessed by a sparse crowd in the 40,000-seat venue, with the empty stands making Bangladesh’s mascot, the Royal Bengal Tiger, the cameraman’s favorite subject.
Fatima’s distracted lines were tested with strategic placements, and Bangladesh retreated into their defensive strategy with 137 dots.
Diana Baig offered a glimmer of hope by trapping Fargana Hoque lbw in the fourth over. Shamim dismissed Sharmin Akter, and captain Fatima took out her counterpart, but Sultana and Rubya’s 62-run third-wicket stand, prioritizing caution over aggression, secured the victory with 113 balls remaining.
Published on Oct 02, 2025
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