Bangladesh Women thrashed by New Zealand

Bangladesh National Women’s Team succumbed to their biggest-ever defeat in Twenty20 Internationals as they were bowled out for only 32 as New Zealand took a win by 132 runs home in Christchurch on Friday.

This is the biggest defeat for Bangladesh in Women’s T20Is by far as their previous record was by 86 runs against Australia in 2020.

Bangladesh’s score, 32, was their second-lowest in the format, only behind their score of 30 against Pakistan in 2020.

Batting first, New Zealand put 164-3 on board, courtesy of good knocks from Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, and Maddy Green.

In reply, none of the Bangladesh batters managed to go into double digits as they flustered for only 32. Ritu Moni top-scored for the team with six runs, equal to what came from extras.

New Zealand skipper Devine opted to bat first after winning the toss, and then put together a 84-run stand for the opening wicket with Bates. The latter was the first to go as Nahida Akter got her wicket for 41 off 33 balls in the 11th over.

Losing her partner, Devine did not stay long for either as Jahanara Alam found her edge to get the White Ferns skipper out for 45 off 34 balls.

A late flourish from Green, where she scored 36 off 23 deliveries, hitting four fours, ensured that the hosts reached a solid total of 164.

In reply, Bangladesh were rattled from the very start as they lost both their openers by the fourth over and three more within the powerplay that generated only 13 runs.

Bangladesh’s biggest partnership in the match was between Fahima Khatun and Ritu Moni which brought them 15 runs in 30 balls before the former fell.

Bangladesh lost the last half of their batting lineup for just five runs as they were bowled out for 32.

The second match of the series will be held in Dunedin on December 4, before the final match of the series in Queenstown on December 7.