4:48 PM IST, 5:18 PM Local Time: What a game we have had here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur Dhaka. A match that swung from one team to another and it ended in a low scoring thriller. The match ended in a tie and then we went to the Super Over which also went down to the wire. In the end, Nigar Sultana Joty holds her nerve and wins the game for Bangladesh to level the series 1-1 with a game to spare. Pakistan fought their hearts out and fell short by the barest of margins. The skipper of Bangladesh does it for her side.
Let's recap you all the drama that unfolded in Mirpur. Bangladesh Women won the toss and decided to bat first and it was a struggle against a disciplined bowling by Pakistan Women. Murshida Khatun went early for 12. Fargana Hoque Pinky looked good and battled it out for her 40 off 88 balls before being run out. Sobhana Mostary scored 16. Skipper Nigar Sultana held the innings together and scored an invaluable 54 off 104 balls. Fahima Khatun scored 16 off 17 balls. 5 extras given by the fielding side as Bangladesh Women ended with 169/9 in 50 overs.
From the bowling point of view, Sadia Iqbal and Nashra Sandhu picked up a couple of wickets apiece and gave nothing away to the batters. A wicket apiece for Diana Baig, skipper Nida Dar and Umm-e-Hani. The bowlers did well to restrict the opposition to 169.
Chasing 170 for the win, Pakistan started quietly against a disciplined Bangladesh bowling attack. Sadaf Shamas scored a laboured 29 off 83 balls while Sidra Ameen scored 22 off 43 balls. Aliya Riaz scored a good looking 21 off 28 balls. The skipper Nida Dar fought her injury on her legs and scored 27 off 47 balls. Iram Javed scored 15 off 31 balls. Najiha Alvi scored 22 off 32 balls. A crucial innings from her. Diana Baig scored 14 off 18 balls while Umm-e-Hani almost took her side home with 11 off 4 balls. 3 extras given by the fielding side as Pakistan ended with 169 in 49.5 overs to tie the game.
Excellent bowling from Bangladesh bowlers. Rabeya Khan was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/29 in 10 overs. A wicket apiece for Marufa Akter, Nahida Akter, Nishita Akter Nishi, and Fahima Khatun. There were run outs galore in the innings and in the end we went into the super over.
In the Super Over, Pakistan scored 7/2 in 5 balls and Bangladesh through Nigar Sultana Joty chased it down off the final ball to win the game in the Super Over. So, Bangladesh Women win in the Super Over and level the series at 1-1. The decider is on Friday with all to play for. Stay tuned for the presentations.