Pakistan stay bottom as Fargana, Fahima lead Bangladesh to first World Cup victory

Bangladesh posted their highest total in ODIs. Pakistan got their best opening partnership in over two years, and Sidra Ameen scored her first ODI century. The match between the Asian neighbours was full of drama, not just records, and ended with Pakistan extending their losing streak in World Cups to 18, and debutants Bangladesh notched up their first win.

Chasing 234, Pakistan needed 94 off the last 15 overs with the set Ameen and Bismah Maroof in the middle. The pair had added 50 by that point in under 12 overs. They had assistance from the Bangladesh fielders, who were sloppy and dropped catches, which helped Ameen get the highest score by a Pakistan batter in Women's World Cups when she got to 80.

But an over later, Maroof miscued a heave off Jahanara Alam to midwicket to end the 64-run second-wicket stand. That set the cat among the pigeons, as Pakistan lost eight wickets for just 70 runs, including a phase where five wickets fell for just five runs. It was all thanks to the legspinning duo of Rumana Ahmed and Fahima Khatun who ran through the Pakistan middle- and lower-middle order. The experienced duo of Nida Dar and Aliya Riaz, in fact, were among three batters to fall for first-ball ducks.

Pakistan's hopes rested on Ameen, who went on to score her century, her first in ODIs. But her run-out for 104 with Pakistan on 215 signalled the end.

Even though Pakistan's batting has been their undoing for some time now - they have crossed 200 in ODIs only on seven out of 17 occasions from the start of 2021 - openers Ameen and Nahida Khan helped set a strong platform for the chase with a 91-run partnership, Pakistan's best for the first wicket and second-best overall in Women's World Cups.

Nahida and Ameen were helped by some wayward new-ball bowling from Alam and Fariha Trisna, and stayed strong as the spinners came on. However, Rumana broke through when she had Nahida playing on. Ameen and Maroof then kept Pakistan on course, rotating the strike when boundaries were hard to come by, before the frenetic action towards the end.

Earlier, Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana added 96 for the third wicket with Fargana Hoque, which provided the base to post 234 for 7.

The openers Shamima Sultana and Sharmin Akhter got off to a positive start against seamers Diana Baig and Fatima Sana. But it took just five balls from Dar to dismiss Shamima and apply the brakes on Bangladesh, who had raced to 51 for 1 in the powerplay.

On cue, Pakistan captain Maroof, who had opted to bowl after winning the toss, brought on spinners from both ends and Nashra Sandhu and Ghulam Fatima strung together the dots. Omaima Sohail reaped the rewards of sustained pressure as she picked up a wicket off her first ball in the game, having Akhter sweeping one on to the stumps for 44.

It was then, at 79 for 2 in the 20th over, that Hoque and Nigar got together. With spinners in operation, they struggled to rotate the strike. But Fargana, having been in the middle for over ten overs at that stage, opened up. She first pulled Sana to the midwicket fence before sweeping Sohail. Sana was then hit for back-to-back fours as Hoque and Nigar brought up their fifty-run stand.

Nigar was more reliant on singles, and she hit her only four off legspinner Ghulam. But Sana then returned to break the partnership, the best for Bangladesh in Women's World Cup, trapping Nigar lbw on 46.

Sandhu then struck twice in two balls, including Hoque for 71, slowing down the Bangladesh scoring at the death overs. They still managed to have enough on the board to set off the celebrations by the end of the day.