Photo: Collected
The Bangladesh women’s cricket team have been all out for 166 in 49.4 overs in the first ODI of the series in Brisbane. As a result, the target before hosts Australia stands at 167 runs. This is the Bangladesh women’s first bilateral series on Australian soil, where Nigar Sultana Joty’s side put up some fight with the bat against the hosts.
Hosts Australia won the toss and sent Bangladesh in to bat first. It was through Ritu Moni’s responsible batting that the Bangladesh women eventually got that total.
The start, however, was not good. Fargana Hoque returned to the dressing room before opening the account. Bangladesh lost the other opener, Sharmin Sultana, at a team score of 11. Then the team came under pressure when Sharmin Akhter departed after scoring 24. Only 2 runs came from Sobhana Mostary’s bat as well.
With that, Bangladesh were in trouble having lost 4 wickets for 48 runs. Captain Nigar Sultana Joty tried to hold one end, but could not build a big innings; she departed after scoring 29 off 86 balls. Before that the captain put up resistance with Shorna Akter. She was out after that partnership of 35 runs off 87 balls.
After that Bangladesh tried to turn things around through the partnership of Ritu Moni and Shorna. Although Shorna departed after scoring 21 off 50 balls, Ritu carried on the fight.
Towards the end, Bangladesh’s total went past 150 thanks to Rabeya Khan’s 11 off 13 balls and Nahida Akter’s unbeaten 14 off 26 balls. Ritu Moni was run out after scoring 45 off 63 balls with 5 fours; hers was the highest score in Bangladesh’s innings. To take the team’s score forward, Ritu also built an important partnership of 37 runs with Nahida.
For Australia, Annabel Sutherland took 4 wickets and Megan Schutt 2.
