Pakistan 166 for 9 (Ameen 84*, Nahida 3-26) lost against Bangladesh 167 for 3 (Hoque 62, Murshida 54, Sandhu 2-27) by seven wickets.
In the last match of the trip against Pakistan, Bangladesh’s women’s ODI partnership created a record and helped them win the series. At the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Bangladesh was on pace for a 167-run chase after the right-left combination of Fargana Hoque and Murshida Khatun scored 125 for the first wicket.
In their 50 overs, Pakistan managed to reach 166 for 9, but it took opener Sidra Ameen’s unbeaten 84 to do so. Marufa Akter bowled only six overs of quick bowling for Bangladesh on a slow surface; for the remaining overs, Bangladesh used spin to restrict Pakistan.
Ameen ended with a strike rate of 58.74, hitting just three fours during her knock. She and Sadaf Shamas (31 off 61 balls) shared a first-wicket partnership of 65 runs, but Pakistan was unable to establish middle-order partnerships. The opening partnership between Ameen and Muneeba Ali required 116 balls to last, but their stand at the second wicket yielded 28 runs off of 70 balls.
Pakistan could never quite get the momentum after being up 93 for 1, and they ended up with a modest total. Diana Baig was the first middle-order batter to score with a strike rate over 100, when she batted at No. 9 and scored 11 runs off of 9 batters. The other batters were all out for single digits. Once again, Nahida Akter was the main tormentor, ending with 3 for 26 in ten overs.
Bangladesh responded gradually but steadily. Despite having strike rates in the 50s, Hoque and Murshida never allowed Pakistan to win the match. Then, in two overs, left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu struck twice to remove the openers. However, captain Nigar Sultana displayed composure once more and, accompanied by Sobhana Mostary, concluded the chase.
It was Bangladesh’s first victory over Pakistan in a three-match bilateral series, however it was their third victory in an ODI series. Prior to Bangladesh’s comeback victory in the second ODI via a Super Over, Pakistan had won the first match.
Bangladesh is ranked sixth in the ICC Women’s Championship standings, while Pakistan is still in second place. But the two sides are separated by just three points.
