Tigresses share honour with India

Fargana Hoque’s superb century and Nahida Sultana’s glimpse of display of bowling brought Tigresses’ a shared honour with India after the series decider encounter of the three-match ODI ended in a thrilling tie at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

After the dramatic finish of the third and last match, the series ended on 1-1 draw with Bangladesh winning the first one and India won the second.

Fargana Hoque became the first women cricketer of Bangladesh to score ODI century when the opener played a 107 runs innings.  

The pulsating last match of the series was ended in the third ball of the last over of the stipulated 50 overs encounter when Marufa Akter got the last batter of India Meghna Singh out.   

However, Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana decided to bat first after winning the toss and riding on the first century for the country (in the women cricket) from Fargana Hoque and a fifty from Shamima Sultana set a challenging target of 226 runs and then bowled out the visitors just one runs away from win the match.

Fargana Hoque and Shamima Sultana were slow but steady to pile up a strong foundation of 93 runs in 26.2 overs in the opening stand.

Fargana, who played half of the innings to scored 107 runs off 160 balls featured with only seven boundaries when in same striking rate, Shamima Sultana scored 52 from 78 deliveries with four boundaries.

At the middle, Nigar Sultana and Sobhana Mostari played two tiny but good innings with scoring 26 and 23 respectively scoring to help Bangladesh to score 225 runs for four wickets.

It was a combined efforts from the Tigresses’ batters and bowlers with their all-round performances.  

When went to chase the target, India had been in control and looked it was easy going for the visitors, as they scored 191 for 4 in the 42nd overs and needed only 34 runs to win in eight overs with six wickets in hands.

But the Bangladesh bowlers bounced back strongly last six wickets for 34 runs when the dismissal of Harleen Deol, who paved a way for India to closer to win the match, was a huge damage for them and lost the wickets in regular intervals.

Harleen Deol scored her career best brilliant 77 runs to keep up the chance of India but going to take a quick single got out when her departure was the turning point of the match.

It was a brilliant piece of fielding from captain and wicketkeeper Nigar Sultana and Fahima Khatun. This time Fahima quickly got there from backward point to flick a throw to Nigar Sultana, who broke the stumps with twinkle of an eye to send back Deol.

After then Jemimah Rodrigues, number sixth batter, who scored 86 off 78 balls in the previous match, struggled along when she saw four batters out of remaining five were getting out for single digit with Rabeya Khan, Nihida Akter and Marufa appeared in fierce mood to send back all.

Earlier, Fahima Khatun, the leg break was also very impressive, as she did great job with getting Mandhana danger batter of India side, scored second highest 59 runs. Mandhara went to cut a full length ball outside the off stamps but due to extra bounce could control her stroke and Mostary made a diving catch at backward point.   

In fact, the Indian collapse began with the run out of Harleen Deol when sending the set batter out Bangladesh bowlers inspired and took the rest of wickets in regular interval.

Nahida Sultana played the vital role to make a huge dame at the late middle order when she sent back Sneh Rana and Devika Vaidya for duck and both were caught and bowled.

Pacer Marufa Akhter made the finishing touch with taking Meghna Singh for six when India equaled the total 225 and were just one run away to win the match.