The ICC Championship Match between Bangladesh Women and India Women provided an exhilarating encounter at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur on Saturday, July 22. Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat, setting the stage for a thrilling contest.
Batting first, Bangladesh put up a competitive total of 225/4 in their allotted 50 overs. Opener Shamima Sultana provided a steady start with her 52 runs off 78 balls, featuring 5 fours. However, it was Fargana Hoque’s maiden ODI century that stole the show. Hoque played a remarkable knock, scoring 107 runs off 160 balls, including 7 fours. Nigar Sultana and Sobhana Mostary also contributed with useful scores of 24 and 23 runs, respectively.
The Indian bowlers tried hard, but they couldn’t break through the Bangladesh batting lineup consistently.
Sneh Rana was the standout bowler for India, claiming 2 wickets for 45 runs in her 10-over spell, while Devika Vaidya and Deepti Sharma picked up 1 wicket each.
In response, India’s innings mirrored Bangladesh’s total exactly, reaching 225 runs. Opener Smriti Mandhana played a fine knock of 59 runs off 85 balls, comprising 5 fours. But, the Women in Blue’s middle order struggled to maintain the momentum.
Harleen Deol was the saving grace for India, showcasing a remarkable display of determination and skill. She scored a superb 77 runs off 108 balls, including 9 fours. Unfortunately, India’s innings couldn’t capitalize on Harleen’s brilliance, as the rest of the batting lineup faltered against a disciplined bowling attack from Bangladesh.
Nahida Akter was the pick of the bowlers for the hosts, taking 3 wickets for 37 runs in her 10-over spell. Marufa Akter and Sultana Khatun contributed with 2 and 1 wicket, respectively.
In a dramatic finish, the match ended in a tie with both teams scoring 225 runs. The match was a thrilling contest that showcased the competitive spirit of women’s cricket.
Harleen’s outstanding performance with the bat earned her the well-deserved “Player of the Match” award.
The series was levelled at 1-1, with Bangladesh winning the first match by 40 runs (DLS Method), and India securing a resounding victory by 108 runs in the second match. The tie in the ICC Championship Match made the series even more exciting and highlighted the talent and determination of both teams in the India Women tour of Bangladesh 2023.
