Bangladesh secure first win of the Women's World Cup

After defeating Pakistan, they go above England, whereas Pakistan remains winless at the bottom of the table.

Pakistan won the toss and decided to bowl first. Bangladesh top-order batters helped post their highest ever Women's ODI score. Sharmin Akhter's 55-ball 44 and Nigar Sultana's 46 aided to set the tone. At the same time, Fargana Hoque's highest ODI score of 71 in middle overs propelled Bangladesh's scoreboard to set the target of 235 for Pakistan. 

Bangladesh won, or we can say Pakistan lost

Pakistan had a very authoritative start by the openers. Openers Sidra Ameen and Nahida Khan built a 91-run partnership in 142 balls. They looked like they were chasing it down for a significant part of the second innings. But then a typhoon hit them. From 183/2, they slipped to 188/7 to hand back all the advantage to Bangladesh and in the end lost by 9 runs. Sidra Ameen fought a lone battle that rode her luck to bring up a fine hundred, but middle-order collapse left her with too much to do in the end. 

Sidra was playing well and would be disappointed she could not finish the game. Bismah Maroof said,"It is very hard to digest, we were in the game, bad shots from the middle order cost us the game.

"Not really, the way we batted we were in the game, we should have chased it down.

"Two close games we did not win. We have to take some positives, move forward and try to come back harder in the next game."

Credits to Fahima Khatun, who turned the game with her ultimate leg breaks in the 44th over of the match. She went on to pick up two wickets and effected a run-out in that over (1, W, W, . , W, 1). Her match-changing spell led her to become Player of the Match.

In an interview after the match, Fahima Khatun said that she was not nervous at all during her bowling. She bowled to her plans and succeeded. "I wanted to bowl on my own ground [and] it was a sporting wicket," she said in excitement.

World Cup games are meant to throw up upsets. Here is one to relish! Bangladesh women's team have their next match against West Indies on 18th March 2022.