Bangladesh women continued their commanding run in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers, outclassing Papua New Guinea by 30 runs on Tuesday at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. Off-spinner Sultana Khatun and leg-spinner Fahima Khatun replaced pacer Marufa Akter and left armed Nahida Akter in the squad.
Losing the toss, Nigar Sultana Joty and her team came out to bat; the openers Dilara Akter and Juairiya Ferdous provided a strong start. Juairiya got out by PNG bowler Mairi Tom on 17 runs. In the 10th over, Dilara lost her wicket by an unfortunate run out, making 35 off 29 balls by Hane Tau. The last match’s star, Sharmin Akhter, stood steadily but had to leave the pitch on 28 runs. The skipper, Joty, also became a victim of run-out by scoring just 6 runs in the second match of the World Cup qualifiers.
Then, the Shorna Akter and Sobhana Mostary show began in the 16th over. Four sixes and a single four, the 19-year-old pushed Bangladesh's scorecard to a fighting position. She made 37 runs off just 14 balls with a strike rate of 264.28. Sobhana also joined the party, scoring a quick 34 runs in 24 balls. The show ended at the 20th over when Shorna lost her wicket to PNG’s Henao Thomas as the Tigresses ended their innings on 168 for five.
In reply, Papua New Guinea started strongly, but the medium pacer Ritu Moni gave the first breakthrough in the 4th over, picking opener Konio Oala’s wicket (12 off 8) at Kirtipur. Rabeya Khan also bowled out another opener in the next over when Hollan Doriga looked dangerous (21 off 13). After PNG captain Brenda Tau (35 off 32) and Sibona Jimmy (28 off 30) got out by Sobhana and Fahima Khatun, the entire batting lineup collapsed as Bangladesh women secured a 30-run victory and stayed at the top of the table in Group A.
Shorna also bagged a wicket, conceding just 6 runs in one over; only Sultana Khatun remained wicketless. Sanjida Akter, Rabeya Khan, Ritu Moni, Fahima Khatun, and Sobhana Mostary got one wicket each.
Bd-pratidin English/ ANI
