Drama in Mirpur as decider ends in thrilling tie

Bangladesh and India shared the ODI trophy after the deciding third match of the series ended in a dramatic tie in Mirpur. With India needing one run off the last four balls, Marufa Akter got No. 11 Meghna Singh caught behind, leaving Jemimah Rodrigues, who had held the second half of the chase together with 33 off 45 balls, stranded.

The match was set up by Fargana Hoque's 107, the first century by a Bangladesh batter in Women's ODIs, which helped the hosts post their second-highest total in the format.

India were inching steadily towards their 226-run target and were 191 for 4 in the 42nd over of the chase. Then came the moment that changed the course of the game. Harleen Deol was set on 77 - her best score in ODIs - when she tapped Nahida Akter in front of point and set off for a non-existent run. Fahima Khatun quickly got there from backward point to flick a throw to Nigar Sultana, who flung herself to take the stumps down and catch Deol, who was sent back, short.

From that point on, India lost six wickets for 34 to be bowled out for 225 and share the three-match series 1-1. A Super Over, the norm in tied ODIs, was not contested since the extra time available for the tie-breaker had already elapsed by the time the 99.3 overs of the match had ended.

The athletic effort from Nigar in running Deol out was a redemption of sorts for the Bangladesh wicketkeeper, who had grassed Smriti Mandhana early in the chase.

The impressive fast bowler Marufa had done everything right on her first ball - angled a length ball away from Mandhana at high pace from over the wicket. The India vice-captain went for a slash without any foot work and edged, but Nigar, diving to her left, couldn't hang on to the chance.

Mandhana made Bangladesh pay with a 85-ball 59 and was involved in a 107-run partnership with Deol for the third wicket.

Bangladesh drew first blood when Marufa took a stunning catch on the second attempt to dismiss Shafali Verma, who was brought in for Priya Punia. The quick intercepted an uppish drive by stretching out her right hand but, seeing the ball pop out, dived full-length to her right to pouch the rebound. Soon Sultana Khatun trapped Yastika Bhatia lbw to reduce India to 32 for 2 in the fifth over

Deol came in at No. 4 ahead of Harmanpreet Kaur, and she made full use of the opportunity. She capitalised on the width provided by Marufa to thrash one through point before getting a front-foot stride out to drive one languidly through the covers. Mandhana tore into offspinner Sultana Khatun, hitting her for two fours in an over. India raced to 59 for 2 in the first powerplay.

Mandhana brought up a half-century off 74 balls, and Deol soon followed her to the milestone, bringing hers up in 72 balls. Then Fahima gave Bangladesh an opening, finding extra bounce to get Mandhana slashing uppishly to backward point.

Harmanpreet made 14 before falling in dramatic fashion, greeting the decision to give her out by hitting her stumps with her bat and remonstrating with the umpire while walking off. At the time she was given out, it was unclear if the umpire had ruled her out lbw or caught at slip - it was later clarified that it was the latter.

Four balls after Deol was run-out, Deepti Sharma was caught short of her crease with a direct hit before Rabeya Khan trapped Amanjot Kaur lbw. Nahida then struck twice in three balls to brighten Bangladesh's hopes further even as Rodrigues held one end up. Marufa, who went off the field briefly, clutching her ankle, after a 30-minute rain delay, then clinched the last wicket to set off cheers at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.

Earlier in the day, Fargana, who is the only Bangladesh batter with over 1000 runs in ODIs, channelled her experience to propel the hosts to their second-highest score in the format after they opted to bat first. She was aided by Shamima Sultana, who struck her second ODI fifty after being brought in for the misfiring Sharmin Akhter.

A couple of fours off Amanjot in the fifth over got Shamima going. She first made room to cut a shortish ball between backward point and gully before pulling one in front of square a couple of balls later. Those were the only two boundaries Bangladesh managed in their first ten overs.

The introduction of spin kept the duo quiet, before Shamima hit fours in the 15th and 17th overs, sweeping offspinner Sneh Rana through square leg to bring up the half-century opening stand and belting a full-toss from Rodrigues back over her head. Shamima and Fargana added 93, the second-best opening stand in women's ODIs for Bangladesh - before Rana had Shamima miscue to mid-off on 52.

For a large part of her knock, Fargana's strike rate hovered in the thirties. She contributed only 31 off 80 balls in the opening stand. But the entry of Nigar at No. 3 was a gear-changing moment for Fargana. Both batters used the sweep to great effect in negating the Indian spinners. They added 71 off 85 for the second wicket, with Fargana contributing 42 and passing her fifty in the process. Even Nigar's fall with Bangladesh on 164 in the 41st over did not deter her.

Despite suffering from cramps and a sore forearm through the innings, Fargana kept going, even though she had a lot of running to get through, hitting only seven fours including the cover-drive off Shafali that took her to her hundred.