Tigresses strike back
While the men's team sent out shockwaves of disappointment through the country, the women's team provided some solace in Cox's Bazar as Khadija Tul Kubra spun Bangladesh to a 10-run victory against South Africa to stay alive in the five-match series yesterday.
Defending a paltry 136 runs, pacers Panna Ghosh and Jahanara Alam along with spinner Kubra initiated the top-order collapse as South Africa lost half their wickets for 64 runs and Kubra finished the job brilliantly to wrap up the visitors for 126 runs in 31.2 overs.
The home team lost the first game badly but fought well in the second match, although they suffered a defeat, and needed to win yesterday at the Sheikh Kamal International Stadium to keep the series alive.
“We were confident that we could defend our total as the wicket was turning and our spin attack was also good,” said an excited Kubra after the match.. “We had a good start in defence of a small total which I think was the turning point in the match. I missed a hattrick chance but I have no regrets as my team won the match.”
But she said that they will need to perform much better in the next matches which will take place on January 18 and 20 at the same venue.
National men's team selector Habibul Bashar, who watched the match as proxy for women's team chief selector Athar Ali Khan who is now in New Zealand as part of the broadcaster commentary team, gave full credit to the bowlers.
“The bowlers actually won the match and we must give full credit to the bowlers. South Africa are a very strong side, so beating them is an achievement but our batting lacked the power. We need to play more international matches and we need to work with this team, especially with the fitness and batting,” observed Bashar.
SCORES IN BRIEF
BANGLADESH WOMEN'S TEAM: 136 all out in 49 overs (Sharmin 21, Rumana 28, Nigar 21, extras 20; Kapp 2-18, Luus 2-29, van Niekerk 2-18)
SOUTH AFRICA WOMEN'S TEAM: 126 all out in 31.2 overs (Lee 46, van Niekerk 42 not out, extras 9; Panna 2-25, Jahanara 2-21, Kubra 4-33)
Result: Bangladesh women's team won by 10 runs.
Player-of-the-match: Khadija Tul Kubra
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