Bangladeshi batter Rumana Ahmed’s fighting 70 went in vain as Bangladesh women’s cricket team lost by 20 runs against Pakistan in their first one-day international at Karachi on Sunday.
Set a record chase after Pakistan were all out for 214, Bangladesh, whose highest ever ODI total is 210, could make only 194-9 from their stipulated 50 overs.Bangladesh got off to a decent start with the 25-run opening partnership but lost three quick wickets to become 60-3 before Fargana Haque and Rumana added 44 runs in the 4th wicket partnership.
Fargana consumed 67 balls for her 26-run innings and the partnership used 86 balls that created pressure which took a toll on skipper Salma Khatun, Ritu Moni and Fahima Khatun, who were all dismissed cheaply for three, seven and two respectively to leave the visitors stuttering at 141-7.
Rumana led the fight back with 44-run partnership off just 45 balls in the 8th wicket with Jahanara Alam, who scored 23 off 28 but that could just reduce the defeat margin.
Rumana struck four fours in her 97-ball 70 that became the third highest individual score for a Bangladesh woman in ODI following two 75-run knocks of Salma Khatun and Rumana herself.
Pakistan’s slow left-arm bowler Anam Amin picked 3-25 from her 10 overs while Asamiva Iqbal, Sana Mir, Nida Dar, Aliya Riaz and Bismah Maroof picked up one wicket apiece.
Earlier, Pakistan’s in-form batter Bismah Maroof made a brilliant 92 off 128 balls with eight boundaries to help her side put a decent total on the board.
She seemed to start from where she left off in the preceding Twenty20 series and got ample supports from Nain Abidi and Nida Dar, who scored 27 and 21 respectively.
For the visitors, skipper Salma picked up 3-31 while Lata Mandal, Nahida Akhter, Khadija Tul Kubra and Fahima Khatun got one wicket each.
Bangladesh will face Pakistan for the second ODI at the same venue on Tuesday to finish off their tour.
-With New Age input