Bangladesh, Group Champions

Bangladesh National Under-19 Women’s team claimed their third win on the trot in the ongoing first edition of the ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup in South Africa to ensure that they qualified for the Super 6 stage as the toppers from group A.

This will now put them in group 1 of the Super 6, where they will have the other two qualified teams from their group, alongside the teams qualified from group D.

The Bangladesh side did not find as dominating a performance as they did in their previous two matches to secure a win against USA in their final match of the group stage, but they yet managed to stroll to a victory by five wickets with 15 balls in hand.

The job was pretty much done in the first innings as skipper Disha Biswas led the bowling attack, picking two wickets for just 13 runs and was later adjudged Player of the Match, as USA were restricted to 103-4. In reply, Bangladesh had some wobbles early, but small yet crucial knocks from the middle-order batters ensured that they found their third victory on the trot with ease.

Earlier in the tournament, Bangladesh beat Australia by seven wickets courtesy of a brilliant batting effort, and then bettered that outing with the bat to ensure a 10-run win against Sri Lanka, which booked their place in the Super 6 stage.

Winning the toss, USA skipper Geetika Kodali opted to bat first, a decision which seemed wrong at the beginning as they could only manage 11 runs in the first four overs with Kodali’s counterpart Disha dismissing Laasya Mullapudi (5).

But from there, Disha Dhingra (20) and Snigdha Paul (26) put together a 57-run stand for the second wicket, which seemed to take the game away from Bangladesh. But on came Disha in the 15th over, and it all changed.

The first wicket was courtesy of a brilliant fielding effort from Shorna Akter at short extra cover as her throw hit the wickets at the non-strikers' end to send back Dhingra, before Disha removed Paul in the next delivery.

Yet, courtesy of Isani Vaghela’s 17 off 17 balls and skipper Kodali’s run-a-ball 16 before she was out in the final ball of the innings, ensured that USA went past three figures and reached 103-4.

Besides Disha’s brace and the run out, the other wicket went to star pacer Marufa Akter.

In reply, Bangladesh came out with a different opening pair as in-form batter Afia Prottasha came to the crease with Sumaiya Akter.

But the plan did not work as both of them fell cheaply, with Prottasha (7) failing to continue on her good run and Sumaiya (10) unable to make use of her opportunity up top as Bangladesh were reduced to 21-2 within the powerplay.

The pressure mounted, but a quick cameo from Shorna Akter, who hit a fifty against Sri Lanka, eased down the nerves as she scored 22 off 14 balls, hitting two fours and a six. She was partnered by Dilara Akter, who also could not convert her start, falling for 17 off 15 balls.

And with both Shorna and Dilara out in quick succession, Bangladesh were reduced to 64-4 and an upset defeat was looming. But skipper Disha promoted her to number six, and a 22-run stand with Rabeya Khan eased the nerves before she was dismissed by Aditiba Chudasama for 10.

But from there on, Rabeya, along with Misty Shaha, ensured that Bangladesh reached home safe and soundly to move onto the next stage of the tournament unscathed.