CHITTAGONG (Agencies): Nahida Akter returned with astonishing figures of 5/8 and powered Bangladesh Women to edge Pakistan Women by five wickets in the first T20I of the three-match series here on Wednesday.
Put into bat first by Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana, Pakistan Women’s batting lineup failed completely and could only accumulate 82 runs before being bundled out in the final over.
The touring side, after 12 overs, were 52/2 with experienced batters Bismah Maroof and Nida Dar at the crease before both set batters perished in the next two successive overs.
Pakistan Women’s captain Nida Dar scored 14 in 21 deliveries with the help of a boundary while Bismah Maroof top-scored with a 29-ball 20.
Pakistan Women then lost three more wickets in quick succession and thus slipped to 67/7 in 16.3 overs. Coming out to bat at number six, Natalia Pervaiz then added valuable runs at the backend with her 16-ball 15 before perishing in the penultimate over.
Bangladesh Women’s bowlers then ran through Pakistan’s batting tail and booked the visitors on a modest total. Nahida Akter spearheaded Bangladesh’s bowling attack with a five-wicket haul while Shorna Akter, Rabeya Khan and Sultana Khatun contributed with a wicket apiece.
In response, Bangladesh Women completed the pursuit for the loss of five wickets and three balls to spare.
The home side had a shaky start to the 83-run pursuit as they were two down for 33 in 9.5 overs.
Skipper Nigar Sultana then joined Murshida Khatun in the middle and put together a vital 24-run partnership before the latter perished in the 15th over.
Khatun scored a cautious 40-ball 23 with the help of two boundaries.
Bangladesh Women then lost two more wickets in the modest run chase but their captain Nigar Sultana stood her ground firm and led the home side to a narrow victory in the final over. She top-scored with an unbeaten 26. Her 28-ball knock featured three boundaries.
