Bangladesh women's 'A' team open T20 series with dominant win
Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Shamima Sultana then played a crucial role in the run chase, with valuable contributions from Sathi Rani and Sobhana Mostary, helping the visitors chase down the 113-run target with seven balls to spare.
Bangladesh women's 'A' team kicked off their five-match T20 series against Sri Lanka 'A' in style, securing a comfortable seven-wicket victory in the opening match at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo on 18 august.
Despite a solid start from Sri Lanka's openers, Kaushini Nuthyangana and Netmi Purna, who added 70 runs for the first wicket, Bangladesh's bowlers kept the run rate under control.
Although this is an 'A' team series, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has fielded several national team players, with the upcoming T20 World Cup in mind. The Bangladesh side had already secured the 50-over series and continued their strong form with today's victory.
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Bangladesh had rested key players Dilara Akter and Nigar Sultana, both of whom starred in the final 50-over match. Shamima, returning from illness after a long absence from the national team, made the most of her opportunity, scoring 48 runs off 44 balls, including five boundaries and the innings' only six.
Shamima put on 40 runs for the opening stand with Sathi (20 off 22 balls) before adding a 56-run partnership with Sobhana (28 off 31 balls) for the second wicket, effectively taking the game away from Sri Lanka.
Earlier, Bangladesh captain Rabeya Khan won the toss and chose to field. Sri Lanka's openers batted cautiously, but their slow scoring left them with little room to accelerate in the final overs. As they tried to pick up the pace, wickets fell in quick succession. From a promising 72/0, they collapsed to 88/6, losing six wickets for just 16 runs. Eventually, they finished on 112/7, with 11 runs coming in the final over.
Fahima Khatun was the standout bowler for Bangladesh, taking 3 wickets for just 12 runs. Rabeya Khan, Jahanara Alam, Ritu Moni, and Sultana each chipped in with a wicket as well.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka women's 'A' team: 112/7 in 20 overs (Nuthyangana 43, Purna 27, Sandamini 14; Fahima 3/12, Sultana 1/9, Ritu 1/10, Jahanara 1/22, Rabeya 1/32).
Bangladesh women's 'A' team: 113/3 in 18.5 overs (Shamima 48, Sobhana 28, Sathi 20, Murshida 11*, Neha 1*; Malsha 2/22, Taruka 1/16).
Result: Bangladesh women's 'A' team won by seven wickets.
