Women's Asia Cup 2022: Pakistan outclass defending champions Bangladesh in one-sided contest

Pakistan are proving to be serious contenders as they continued their winning streak by getting the better of the defending champions Bangladesh by nine wickets in the fifth match of the Women's Asia Cup 2022 in Sylhet on Monday, October 3. 

By the virtue of this win, the Women in Green have registered their second successive victory in the competition and now seem to be a threat for the rest of the participants in this edition of the continental tournament. On the other hand, the hosts failed to live up to the expectations in this contest.

Pakistan bowlers restrict Bangladesh to paltry total

Batting first, Bangladesh were expected to post a challenging total on the board and make the scenario tough for the Pakistan batters while chasing on the Sylhet wicket. However, that was not the case as they never looked comfortable out there and a collective batting failure meant that the title-holders failed to keep the scoreboard ticking. 

Apart from skipper Nigar Sultana's 17, none of the other batters in the top-order could contribute at all and overall, it was a sorry-looking scorecard for the reigning champions as most of the batters were back in the dugout on single-digit scores. 

In the end, Salma Khatun's unbeaten 24 helped them post 70/8 in their 20 overs. For Pakistan, Diana Baig and Nida Dar took two wickets each while Omaima Sohail also registered a scalp to her name.

In reply, the Women in Green never looked uncomfortable chasing an easy target and they completely foiled the Bangladesh bowlers' strategy of picking up early wickets right from the word 'go'. Openers Muneeba Ali and Sidra Ameen laid a solid foundation with a 49-run opening stand.

Even though Ali was dismissed for 14 in the eighth over, the small target was never going to help Bangladesh in staging a comeback. Sidra Ameen (36*) and Bismah Maroof (12*) then completed the formalities in the 13th over.