The women in blue are in Bangladesh for a three-match T20I series followed by a three-match ODI series as Indian women kickstart their preparations for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2024, set to be played in Bangladesh. The slowness of the pitch resulted in the T20I series turning out to be a low-scoring affair. The ODIs set be to played at the same venue at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. In this article, we will be discussing how things panned out in the first ODI.
Rain delayed the start of the first ODI and the game was eventually reduced to 43 overs per side. Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and opted to field first in the first ODI. The Bangladesh openers got off to a slow start, scoring at just 2 runs an over in the first seven overs, before an accurate, flat through from Amanjot Kaur finds Sharmin Akhter well short of her crease to provide the first breakthrough. Amanjot Kaur dismissed Murshida Khatun courtesy of a sharp low catch from the skipper Harmanpreet Kaur.
The Bangladesh Skipper Nigar Sultana joined Fargana Hoque and the duo stabilized the innings with a crucial 49-run partnership for the 3rd wicket. Just when the duo was threatening to take the game away, Amanjot Kaur came back and provided the much-needed breakthrough dismissing Fargana Hoque (27 off 45), courtesy of a sharp catch behind the stumps from Yastika Bhatia to provide her second wicket for the day. She also went on to pick the big wicket of the opposition skipper Nigar Sultana (39 off 64).
Bangladesh suffered a collapse as they lost their last five wickets for just 49 runs and they ended up with 152 runs on the board in their quota of 43 overs. The debutant Amanjot Kaur was the pick of the bowlers as she returned with the 2nd best bowling figures (4/31) by an Indian on debut in ODIs in her spell of nine overs. A collective performance from the bowling unit didn’t let the batters get off the hook.
𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧 𝗗𝗘𝗙𝗘𝗔𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗔 🆚 𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗟𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗛 𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝗗𝗜𝘀 😲
🇧🇩 Bangladesh won the 1st ODI by 4️⃣0️⃣ runs! They go 1️⃣-0️⃣ up in the ODI series 🆚 🇮🇳 India. #CricketTwitter #BANvIND 📸: BCB pic.twitter.com/bAsCdxsByU
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) July 16, 2023
Chasing a total of 154, India got off to a quick start, but Smriti Mandhana departed early courtesy of an excellent catch from the wicket-keeper Nigar Sultana behind the stumps, as Marufa Akter provided the first breakthrough for Bangladesh. India never really got the momentum as they kept on losing wickets at regular intervals and the visitors were eventually bundled out for 113 runs in the 36th over of the run case.
WHAT A SPELL 🔥👏🏻
Marufa Akter is declared the 'Player of the Match' for her incredible performance in the 1st ODI.#CricketTwitter #BANvIND 📸: Getty pic.twitter.com/gS5z8AVU0n
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) July 16, 2023
The visitors fell short by 40 runs as the home side managed to get their maiden victory over India in the ODI format. The under-19 stars for Bangladesh Marufa Akter (4/29) and Rabeya Khan (3/30) were the pick of the bowlers for the home side guiding Bangladesh to a historic, their first against Bangladesh, and a memorable victory in the first ODI.
HISTORIC WIN for Bangladesh Tigress and their fans 👏#CricketTwitter #BANvIND pic.twitter.com/dOEXY3U9VS
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) July 16, 2023
Loves all things female cricket