Photo: Firoz Ahmed
When India posted 228 for eight after being sent into bat, the target appeared incredibly steep one for the Bangladesh women’s cricket team, and it proved to be the case in the end, as the Tigresses were bundled out for 120, slumping to a 108-run loss in the second of the three-match ODI series in Mipur yesterday.
With the thumping win, India bounced back to level the series 1-1.
When Marufa Akter bowled an outstanding inswinger to rattle the stumps of India opener Priya Punia in the morning, the Tigresses would have hoped that they would be able to restrict India to a much lower total.
“If I say about our bowling, we couldn’t give our 100 per cent according to our bowling strength. We gave away 30 to 40 runs more than what we had planned. Also, our fielding wasn’t as good as the game before. Their total proved big for us,” vice-captain Nahida Akter, who finished with 2-37, expressed her discontent in the post-match press conference yesterday.
However, the recent batting efforts pose a far bigger worry for Bangladesh, who only once crossed 220 in ODIs. According to Nahida, 180 was a more ‘achievable target’ for the side.
When Fargana Hoque bided time at the crease during a 47-run knock, stitching together a 68-run stand with Ritu Moni for the fourth wicket, it may have occurred that Bangladesh would at least be able to take the game deep. The last seven wickets, however, fell for 14 runs once that partnership was broken.
“The momentum was shifting to our side when [Fargana Hoque] Pinky and Ritu were batting. But those among us who batted in the middle-order, including me and Rabeya at the end, couldn’t take the responsibility,” Nahida said.
Despite the defeat, the Tigresses still have a chance to clinch their maiden ODI series against India when they meet for the final ODI on Saturday at the same venue. “We are mentally strong. We will play for the win in the last match and give our hundred per cent effort,” Nahida said.
Jemimah Rodrigues was the star of the show for India with an all-round performance. She scored a career-best 86 off 78 deliveries before registering career-best bowling figures of four wickets for just three runs that swept the Tigresses away.
Jemimah had bowled just 12 deliveries in her 22-match career before this game but she wasn’t surprised.
“I’m not surprised, honestly. I’ve been bowling a lot for my state team back there. Even in the nets, I’ve been working like this for the last two years. I was very happy that the support staff and our captain came up to me and they said, ‘We need you on these tracks’ because I get good turn and bounce. So, I was ready for it,” she said.
