Summary: Maldives lose to Bangladesh by 249 runs in another one-sided contest – South Asian Games 2019
Maldives Women again had an off day on the field as they lost to Bangladesh by a margin of 249 runs. Batting first, Bangladesh posted a total of 255 runs courtesy centurions Nigar Sultana and Fargana Hoque. The Maldives, on the other hand, could score only 6 runs before getting all-out, thus obtaining consecutive defeats in the tournament.
What is the probability of a team getting defeated by a margin of same runs in consecutive T20 games against different oppositions? Well, it has happened with Maldives. After losing to Sri Lanka by 249 runs a day ago, Maldives have repeated the outcome against Bangladesh today.
Bangladesh Women on winning the toss decided to bat first. After the openers fell cheaply- Shamima Sultana run out on 5 and Sanjida Islam bowled by Shamma Ali on 7, the reigns were controlled by Nigar Sultana and Fargana Hoque. Both stayed on to make unbeaten centuries. Sultana hit 3 sixes and 14 fours en route her 65-ball 113 while Hoque hit as many as 20 boundaries, hitting at a strike rate which went above 207. She made 110 runs in 53 balls. They both took Bangladesh’s score to 255 runs at the end of first innings.
Chasing a target of 256, Maldives Women lacked composure. Bangladesh bowlers were too dominant for the inexperienced Maldives batters. Everyone except Kinaanath Ismail 1(8), Sajaa Fathimath 1(7) and Shamma Ali 2(12) were dismissed on ducks. Within 13 overs, Maldives were all-out only for 6 runs!
Bangladesh thus won the match by a huge margin of 249 runs. Captain Salma Khatun and Ritu Moni both obtained 3-wicket hauls while Puja Chakraborty and Nahida Akter bagged one wicket each. Bangladesh thus had two centurions and two 3-wicket takers in a single T20 match!
Bangladesh Women: 255/2 in 20 overs
Maldives Women: 6 all-out in 12.1 overs
Result: Bangladesh Women won by 249 runs
Player of the Match: Nigar Sultana (113* off 65)
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