Bangladesh national women’s cricket team had a blistering start to their Asia Cup title defence as they beat Thailand by an emphatic margin of nine wickets in Sylhet on Saturday.
Batting first, Thailand were bowled out for only 82 as Bangladesh produced a brilliant bowling performance.
In reply, opener Shamima Sultana’s 49 off 30 deliveries propelled Bangladesh to a nine-wicket victory with 50 balls in hand.
On Friday, Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana Joty had said that Bangladesh would need a combined team performance to win their matches.
After Thailand won the toss and opted to bat first, the Bangladesh bowling attack did exactly that. They did not let the Thai batters form any sort of partnership as only four of them could reach double figures.
Their highest partnership was between Natthakan Chantham (20) and Phannita Maya (26) for the third wicket of 38 runs. But after Maya’s dismissal, Thailand fell like a house of cards as they lost their last eight wickets for 28 runs.
Rumana Ahmed was the pick of the bowlers for Bangladesh as she picked up three wickets, with Sanjida Akter Meghla, Nahida Akter, and Shohely Akter picking up two each. Star all-rounder Salma Khatun took the other scalp.
In reply, Shamima and Fargana Haque’s partnership of 69 runs off just 49 deliveries kicked away any jitters to send Bangladesh on a winning start.
Shamima missed out on a fifty as she was bowled by Thipatcha Putthawong, but in came skipper Nigar, and she hit a six to finish off the game.
Bangladesh’s next match is against Pakistan on Monday.
