Tigresses on the back foot

Following a whitewash at the hands of their Pakistani counterparts in a three-match T20I series, the Bangladesh women's team began the three-match ODI series against the hosts on the back foot as the Tigresses suffered a 29-run defeat in the first match at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore yesterday.

The Jahanara Alam-led Bangladesh had Pakistan bundled out for 215 runs in 48.5 overs but could not manage to steal their first win of the tour despite a fifty from Nigar Sultana.

Electing to bat, the Pakistan openers -- Nahida Khan and Sidra Amin -- gave the side a decent start with their 59-run stand before Sidra saw her stumps rattled off of a Fahima Khatun delivery in the 21st over. Javeria Khan's dismissal in the very next over could have seen Pakistan in trouble but Nahida strung together another crucial 69-run partnership with skipper Bismah Maroof to revive the innings. Nahida top scored for the team, scoring 68 off 97 balls as Pakistan managed to put up a modest total before being bundled out.

Following the exchange, Bangladesh lost two quick wickets as they slumped to two for nine in 3.2 overs. Nigar was the only exception in the Tigresses' squad as she managed to convert her start to a fifty, scoring a 77-ball 58, which however was not enough as Bangladesh were bundled out for 186 in 47.4 overs.