Bangladesh won the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup for the first time, thanks to the patience of Fargana Hoque, who achieved 71 runs, which guided them to a historic nine-run triumph over Pakistan. Despite Sidra Amin, Pakistani Women Cricketer’s magnificent 104 runs, the batter anchored the Tigresses to 234 for seven before Fahima Khatun got three late wickets to help reduce Pakistan to 225 for nine. Pakistan failed to keep up with the needed run rate and lost wickets at a regular clip in the final ten overs, just as they were attempting to pick up the pace, and they never seemed like they would win.
Bangladesh celebrated a massive milestone in their progress following a superb all-around effort, but they remain without an ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup triumph in 13 years. Because batting second was the preferred choice in Hamilton, Pakistan won the toss and decided to field.
Shamima Sultana was the first batter to go in the ninth over, hitting Nida Dar straight to midwicket for 17, putting Fargana to the crease. The Tigresses were 51 for one at the end of the powerplay, with Sharmin Akhter on a run-a-ball 29. However, Pakistan’s miserly bowling slowed her down, and she gloved an Omaima Sohail delivery back onto her stumps for 44.
At the start of the 20th over, Bangladesh were 79 for two, with Fargana on just eight from 32 deliveries with the pressure on her to step up and hold the batting. Fortunately for Bangladesh, she succeeded in doing so. Fargana struck a crucial boundary midway through the 25th over as Bangladesh reached the halfway mark at 92 for two, despite Pakistan’s miserly bowling.
Sensing her opportunity, Fatima Sana was hit for consecutive boundaries at the start of the 31st over, and she later had an LBW judgment reversed after being first given out. Bangladesh reached 200 in the 44th over thanks to a series of boundaries, but Rumana’s 13-ball cameo ended in the following over when she holed out to Nashra Sundhu.
Ms. Fargana was dismissed two overs later by the same bowler, who found the edge of her bat for 71 and then caught Fahima Khatun LBW with the next delivery. Salma Khatun was forced to block the hat-trick ball, but some deft running later in the innings propelled Bangladesh to their highest-ever women’s ODI total.
In response, Pakistan got off to a good start, with Sidra and Nahida Khan at the top of the order. At the end of the powerplay, they achieved 46 for no loss, and in the 13th, they established the 50 partnership. Then, in the 24th over, Nahida sliced a Rumana delivery onto her stumps for 43 runs, putting an end to a potential 91-run stand.
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