Tigresses eye historic series win

Pacer Marufa Akter, who visibly operates with a pumped-up action and fearsome determination, is all smiles as she gracefully kicks a football in training at the Sher-e-Bangladesh National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday. The Bangladesh starlet from Nilphamari scalped four crucial wickets on Sunday to script her team’s maiden ODI victory against India, and the hosts would also bank on her in today’s second and penultimate fixture of the series, potentially a series-decider. It is no wonder that former Australia cricketer Mel Jones had remarked that Marufa puts ‘the bang in Bangladesh’ during the T20 World Cup this year. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

After registering their maiden ODI win over India last Sunday, Bangladesh women’s cricket team have their eyes set on yet another historic achievement as they hope to seal the three-match series with a win in the second ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.

The match is scheduled to begin at 9:30 am, with the fans having the option to catch the action live on BCB’s YouTube channel. 

According to all-rounder Lata Mondal, the series win over a top side like India, who sit two places ahead of the Tigresses at four in the ODI rankings, will be a turning point for women’s cricket in Bangladesh, who have only won ODI series against Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Ireland. 

“Obviously, it will be a [turning point if we win the series]. We really work hard and have been waiting for a good result for a long time. So, if we can do well on the field then the result will be in our favour. Who doesn’t want to win the series as we will try to play our best cricket and follow the process. We will try to play our best as we will be playing at our home ground,” Lata told the media yesterday. 

According to Lata, the hosts will look to build on the momentum gathered from their wins in the final T20I and the first ODI.

“India are a very good side. Since we won the last T20I and also the first ODI, naturally we are doing things right and have been playing better cricket than them,” she said. 

Pacer Marufa Akter starred for the hosts in the first ODI, scalping four wickets to help Bangladesh bundle out India for 113. She is expected to play a crucial role once again today.

However, batting still remains an area of concern for the hosts and according to Lata, who did not feature in the first ODI, the Tigresses are working on their batting skills and hope to put up a better show today.

India, who whitewashed Sri Lanka and England in their recent-most bilateral ODI series, will surely look to bounce back and try to keep the series alive.