Bangladesh’s experienced top-order batter Sharmin Akhter reached a significant personal milestone on Sunday, making her 100th international appearance in the second ODI against Australia at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane. The 30-year-old, however, endured a game to forget with the bat, dismissed for an 11-ball duck at number three as Bangladesh slipped to a nine-wicket defeat that handed Australia an unassailable 2-0 lead in their historic maiden bilateral women’s ODI series on home soil against the Nigar Sultana Joty-led side.
Australia, led by stand-in skipper Tahlia McGrath in the absence of regular captain Sophie Molineux due to a hip injury, won the toss and opted to field first. Bangladesh, captained by Nigar Sultana Joty (74* off 114 balls), fought their way to a competitive 220/6 in their allotted 50 overs on the back of a fighting maiden ODI century 118 (134 balls) for Sobhana Mostary. But Australia’s chase proved emphatic, sealing the contest by nine wickets after their seven-wicket win in the series opener. With the third ODI still to come, the hosts have already sealed the three-match series.
For Sharmin, the occasion carried a bittersweet edge. A century of international appearances is a testament to longevity, resilience and sustained trust in a Bangladesh side that has often had to fight for resources, recognition and consistency. Yet the milestone innings ended quickly, leaving the seasoned campaigner to reflect on a rare blank scorecard on a day that should otherwise have belonged to her.
A Career Built on Persistence
Sharmin’s international journey began on 26 November 2011, when she made her ODI debut against Ireland at Sarvar. Nearly fifteen years later, she remains an important part of Bangladesh’s batting structure, particularly in the middle order, where her experience has often helped steady innings in challenging conditions.
In 58 ODI appearances, she has scored 1,476 runs at an average of 26.83 and a strike rate of 58.36, with 11 half-centuries in 57 innings. Those numbers may not be filled with towering aggregates, but they reflect the demanding role she has performed for Bangladesh: rebuilding after early losses, rotating strike in low-scoring contests, and giving the innings a sense of order.
Her finest ODI innings underlined her ability to anchor and accelerate when the situation demanded. Against Ireland at Mirpur on 27 November 2024, Sharmin struck a superb 96 off 89 balls from number three, laced with 14 boundaries. Her knock powered Bangladesh to 252/4, and the side went on to win by 154 runs. Sharmin was deservedly named Player of the Match, producing one of the most complete batting performances of her international career.
A Reliable Presence in T20Is
Sharmin’s T20I career began on 28 August 2012, against Ireland in Dublin. Since then, she has accumulated 732 runs in 40 innings at an average of 20.33 and a strike rate of 85.41, including two half-centuries across 42 matches. While her T20I returns have been more modest, her value has often extended beyond raw numbers. In a format where Bangladesh have frequently relied on discipline, adaptability and partnerships rather than explosive individual efforts, Sharmin’s ability to bat through phases of pressure has made her a dependable option in the top order.
The second ODI in Brisbane was always going to be a stern examination for Bangladesh. Facing Australia in Australian conditions, with the hosts desperate to maintain their dominance, the visitors needed their senior batters to set the tone. Instead, Sharmin’s early dismissal left Bangladesh to rebuild, even though they eventually posted a total that gave them something to defend.
The nine-wicket loss was another reminder of the gulf Bangladesh are trying to close against the world’s leading sides. Yet the series itself remains historic: Australia hosting Bangladesh for a maiden bilateral ODI series represents another step in the growth of women’s cricket and in Bangladesh’s expanding international schedule.
There is still one opportunity left for Bangladesh to salvage pride. The third and final ODI will be played at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane on 14 October 2026, beginning at 9:20 AM IST. For Sharmin Akhter, it offers a chance to move beyond the disappointment of her milestone match and remind everyone why she has been a fixture in Bangladesh’s international set-up for so long.
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