Bangladesh opened their account in the Rivaj Presents the University of Lahore U19 Women’s T20 Tri-nation series with a 30-run win over hosts Pakistan, defending their total of 117-8 as Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad became host to an international women’s fixture for the first time on Friday.
Pakistan will take the field against on Saturday against Sri Lanka with the first ball set to be bowled at 11am at the same venue.
Player of the match Nishita Akter Nishi starred for Bangladesh with both bat and ball as she followed her 23-run effort at no.3 with a clinical four-over spell taking two for 16. Pakistan were restricted to 87-6 in 20 overs in their pursuit of the target as Komal Khan top-scored with 29 off 39 striking three fours.
Komal had stitched a 21-run opening stand with Ravail Farhan, who got off the blocks quickly hitting four boundaries before falling for 17 off 12 – pinned leg-before by left-arm spinner Afrin Mim.
Pakistan lost their way losing five for 37 as Bangladesh bowlers applied pressure from both ends with both mainstays of hosts’ batting Zoofishan Ayyaz (12, 15b, 2x4s) and Aqsa Habib (9, 14b) falling to the right-arm off-spin of Nishita Akter.
Debutant Pakeeza Shabbir could only contribute six runs batting at no.3 following her impressive run of form in U19 domestic T20 tournament, while pinch hitter Shahar Bano was also kept quiet by Bangladesh as she struggled to hit a boundary in her 18-ball stay at the crease.
Apart from Nishita and Afrin’s strikes, Farjana Easmim Medha and Oddrita Nowshin picked up one wicket each as all the six bowlers employed by Bangladesh conceded less than six an over.
Earlier, Bangladesh opted to bat first after winning the coin toss and were kept in check by Pakistan bowlers who claimed first four wickets for 47 runs in 9.4 overs. At this juncture, Sadia Akter walked in and scored a valuable 34 not out off 25 balls hitting one four and two sixes and was supported by Sraboni Shill who hit two fours in her 11-ball 12.
Nishita was the fifth Bangladesh batter to fall after scoring 23 off 33 with the help of a solitary boundary, while no.4 Sadia Aslam scored 12 off 11 balls striking two fours. Sadia Akter added 19 runs for the ninth wicket with Oddrita (6 not out, 2b).
For Pakistan, left-arm pacer Mahnoor Zeb picked up three wickets for 24 runs in her four overs, off-spinner Rozina Akram dismissed two batters, left-arm pacer Shahar Bano and local left-arm spinner Maham Nazakat dismissed one batter each.
