Pak v Ban Women’s World T20 Review: Pakistan steamroll Bangladesh

The Pakistan eves picked up their second win in the tournament with an impressive 9-wicket win over arch-rivals Bangladesh. Although the win does not guarantee them a spot in the semifinals of the tournament, it will certainly ensure that the Pakistan eves stand a fighting chance of qualifying. The two points won also mean that they leapfrog yet another arch-rival – India to move into third place in the standings. A lot will ride on them when they take on Charlotte Edwards’ England in their subsequent encounter. As for Bangladesh, their tournament is effectively done and dusted, and they will be playing for pride in their final match of the tournament against the West Indies.

For the second time in the day, and on the same Feroz Shah Kotla wicket, the toss-winning captain elected to bat first. In this case, Jahanara Alam chose to bat first. Yet another aspect became familiar when Pakistan skipper Sana Mir introduced spin right away in the form of Anam Amin. The slow left-arm orthodox bowler was on the prowl immediately as she dismissed Sanjida Islam in only her second over. Skipper Sana Mir brought herself on, removing the dangerous Sharmin Akhter. The latter was looking dangerous after biding her time at the wicket, scoring 19 as she did.

The Pakistan women were wonderful in the field. Perhaps an aspect that has kept them from winning the matches they deserved to in the past. The evidence of the previous statement can be concluded from the four run-outs in the innings. Nigar Sultana, Rumana Ahmed and Fahima Khatun were hugely disappointing, scoring just 11 runs between them.

Fargana Hoque waged a lone battle against the rampant Pakistani attack as she attempted to salvage some sort of pride. However, losing partners at the other end did little to help her cause as she perished to yet another run-out after scoring a valiant 36. Apart from a couple of boundaries from Lata Mondal, the Bangladeshi tail failed to wag as they were reduced to 113/9 in their 20 overs. Beyond the shout of a doubt, Anam Amin was the pick of the bowlers, concluding with figures of 2/12 in her 4 overs.

Despite beginnings on a fairly bright note, disaster struck the Pakistan women early on. The in-form Nahida Khan’s dismissal gave a weak Bangladesh side a ray of hope. With the wicket turning as much as it did in the initial innings, the Bangladeshis felt that they were in with a fighting chance of victory. Sidra Ameen and Bismah Maroof however, had different ideas. With spinners operating in tandem, it was imperative that the run rate was in check. Therefore, the duo rotated the strike with considerable ease while putting the oddball away to the boundary.

It was far from easy, playing under the heat of the Delhi weather as Ameen and Maroof toiled away. The acceleration came soon after the 10^th over of the innings when Ameen took the initiative to up the ante. She slammed a couple of boundaries and followed it up with a few more as the Pakistanis inched closer to a much deserved and important win.

While Sidra Ameen coated along towards her half-century, Bismah Maroof too began batting with a stern aggression, slamming 5 boundaries in her compilation of 43.

The target was eventually reached in 16.1 overs, a massive boost in terms of the net run rate. Salma Khatun picked up the only wicket of the Pakistan innings, giving Pakistan a massive 9-wicket victory margin.

Brief Scores:

Bangladesh – 113/9 in 20 overs (Fargana Hoque 36; Anam Amin 2/12)
Pakistan – 114/1 in 16.1 overs (Sidra Ameen 53*; Salma Khatun 1/15)

Man of the match: Sidra Ameen

In another superb game Australia beat Sri Lanka – SL v Aus Women World T20 Review: Rampant Australia rip Lankans apart