Nahida, Salma, Ritu go into record books as Tigresses thrash Kenya

Salma Khatun and Ritu Moni stitched together a record seventh-wicket stand while Nahida Akter reached the milestone of registering the best-ever bowling figures in T20Is by a Bangladeshi woman as their exploits helped the Tigresses thrash Kenya in their second match of the 2022 Commonwealth Games qualifiers in Kuala Lumpur today.

Despite a shaky start, Bangladesh registered a convincing 80-run victory over Kenya at the Kinrara Academy Oval. This is the Tigresses' second consecutive victory in the tournament following their eight-wicket thumping of hosts Malaysia in the tournament opener.

Defending a modest total of 125, Bangladesh bowlers once again did a marvelous job as all the five bowlers used by the Tigresses were amongst the wickets. They bundled out Kenya for 45 in 12.4 overs.

After being asked to bat, Bangladesh had a hard time scoring runs. The Tigresses were at one stage reduced to six for 50 in just nine overs. 

However, thanks to Salma Khatun and Ritu Moni's resilient 75-run stand for the seventh wicket, Bangladesh posted a respectable total in 20 overs. The unbeaten stand between Salma and Ritu is now the highest partnership in Women's T20Is for the seventh wicket. 

They surpassed Monica Pascal and Nasra Saidi of Tanzania Women to achieve the feat. A 72-run stand between Monica and Nasra against Uganda in 2019 was the highest partnership for the seventh wicket before the duo of Salma and Ritu broke it today. Salma scored an unbeaten 32-ball 33 while Ritu remained unbeaten on 39 off 34 deliveries, a knock that featured three boundaries.    

After a resilient batting display by Ritu and Salma, Nahida turned out to be the destroyer in chief with the ball in hand, bagging a fifer and helping Bangladesh bundle out Kenya for a low total. 

Nahida's incredible bowling figures of five for 12 in 3.4 overs that featured a maiden is now the best bowling figures by any Bangladeshi women in T20Is. She surpassed Panna Ghosh, who held the record previously for her bowling figures of five for 16 against Ireland in 2016.