Women's World Cup | Bangladesh skittle Pakistan for 129 enroute to comfortable win in Colombo opener

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Bangladesh produced an all-round clinic at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Thursday to kickstart their Women's World Cup campaign with a routing of Asian rivals Pakistan. A comprehensive bowling performance saw Pakistan bowled out for 127 before Rubya Haider anchored the chase with an unbeaten 54.

Niger Sultana led Bangladesh to a seven-wicket win over Fatima Sana's Pakistan in their Women's World Cup opener in Colombo

Pakistan were made to regret their decision to set a score right off the bat as Marufa Akter produced two inswinging peaches in the very first over to resign Omaima Sohail and Sidra Amin to golden ducks. However, Rameen Shamim and Muneeba Ali fought back with regular striek rotation, taking the score to 41/2 by the end of the powerplay. The resistance did not last long though after Nahida Akter's introduction to the attack as she had Muneeba Ali pop one to point for 17, before taking a simple catch off her own bowling to dispatch Shamim for 23. With her team reeling at 47/4, Sidra Nawaz chose to take the counterattacking route with a couple of early boundaries but a slew of dot balls saw the pressure rise again, culminating in Rabeya Khan trapping her plumb with a well-disguised googly. Aliya Riaz and Fatima Sana thus remained as a final hope for putting up a competitive score but the duo continued to be stifled with tight lines and lengths. Riaz ultimatey ahd enough and decided to take on Nishita Akter, only to find long-off and end a 43-ball struggle for 13. Just two overs later, skipper Sana had a Fahima Khatun googly pin her in front of the stumps as the side tumbled to 100/7. Diana Baig provided some resistance low down the order with an unbeaten 22-ball 16 but found little support, with Nashra Sandhu's hit-wicket doing her no favours as Pakistan were bowled out for 129 in 38.3 overs.

In response, the Tigresses faced a quality spell of swing and seam bowling from Sana and Baig, the latter beginning with a maiden and scalping Fargana Hoque in her next over for good effect. Nevertheless, Rubya Haider and Sharmin Akhter stood firm, quietly dragging the side to 23/1 at the end of 10 even as Baig's figures read a dreamy 5-3-2-1. The building steam from Pakistan's bowlers resulted in Akhter falling LBW to Shamim for a 30-ball 10, sparking fresh hope in the rival camp while the experienced Nigar Sultana walked in. With debutant Rubya at the other end, Sultana decided to give her team a lift with consecutive boundaries in the 16th over, inspiring the youngster to respond with four boundaries off her own across two overs as the side raced to within 50 runs of glory. However, Sultana failed to see things through to the end as the 62-run stand was ended by Sana in the 25th over with 36 runs still to get but Haider and Sobhana Mostary made sure there were no more hiccups, the former finishing unbeaten on 54 while Mostary hurried to the finish with six boundaries in her 19-ball 24.

Victory!

Congratulations Bangladesh women team, fantastic victory over Pakistan women team
— mohsinali (@mohsinaliisb)

BAN-W Won!

Bangladesh Women's trashing Pakistan women's
— VM (@VMTweets_)

50!

FIFTY FOR RUBYA HAIDER JHELIK! 👏🏻

Bangladesh Women need just 29 runs to seal their first CWC25 victory! 👀
— Laraib Fatima🦋 (@Laraib_Fatiima)

Yeah!

Bangladesh letting the early advantage slip with some loose bowling.
— AsliBCCIWomen (@AsliBCCIWomen)

On fire!

Marufa breathing fire! 🔥

Back to back PAK wickets

— Harry (@HarryJP097)

Haha!

It was expected lol.

Bangladesh women defeated them in last world cup as well
— Visheshta Jotwani (@visheshtaaa_j15)

Yes!

Jhelik absolutely smashing Sandhu!
— Saurav Yadav (@Sauravgood)

Well played!

Solid stand 💚 | Jhelik & Joty stitch together a vital 50-run partnership for Bangladesh at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025!

Photo Credit: ICC/Getty
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers)

Allout!