The Bangladesh Women’s team beat Kenya Women’s team by 80 runs in their second Commonwealth Games Women’s Cricket Qualifier match on Wednesday (January 19). The Bangladesh Women’s team has consolidated their place atop the table with four points after winning this match. The Sri Lankan Women’s team is presently in second place with two points. Left-arm spinner Nahida Akter took five wickets for 12 runs, the best T20I bowling figure by a Bangladeshi bowler. The match report between Bangladesh women and Kenya Women is discussed in this article.
Match Report: Bangladesh Women vs Kenya Women
The Bangladesh Women’s team was asked to bat first and they scored 125/6 in 20 overs on a bowler-friendly ground at Kinrara Academy Oval in Kuala Lumpur.
Shamima Sultana and Murshida Khatun got Bangladesh off to a good start with a blistering 24-run opening partnership. Skipper Nigar Sultana and Murshida added 18 more runs on the second wicket. Bangladesh had 42 runs in 5 overs and seemed to be on their way to a big total. However, Bangladesh’s innings suddenly crumbled as they lost four more wickets in the first ten overs.
The Tigresses were reduced to 50/6 in 9 overs. However, Salma Khatun and Ritu Moni put up an unbroken 75* runs stand in 54 balls to help Bangladesh achieve a challenging total to defend.
Veteran Salma Khatun struck an unbroken 33* off 32, while Ritu Moni made an unbeaten 39* off 34. Queentor Abel was outstanding with the ball for Kenya, taking the most wickets with three.
Kenya women’s team was bowled out for 45 runs in 12.4 overs in the chase. They continued losing wickets from the start of the innings and were unable to build a productive partnership in the middle.
Skipper Margaret Ngoche and Sharon Juma formed Kenya’s most successful partnership. They put up a 16-run stand for the fourth wicket. Sharon Juma led the Kenya Women’s team with 24 runs.
The most successful bowler for the Bangladesh Women’s team was left-arm spinner Nahida Akter. She broke the record for best bowling figures in Twenty20 internationals for Bangladesh after taking 5 wickets for only 12 runs. Apart from her; Salma Khatun, Suraiya Azmin, Rumana Ahmed, and Sanjida Akter Meghla each took one wicket for the team tigress.
Player of the Match
Slow left-arm spinner Nahida Akter was named player of the match for her exceptional bowling effort. Her final bowling figure was 3.4-1-12-5.
Bottom Line
Bangladesh Women’s team thrashed Kenya Women’s team by a huge margin in their second encounter of the competition. The Kenyan women’s team, on the other hand, was completely outplayed by the Bangladesh women’s side. Spinner Nahida Akter had a memorable day, who took a fifer in the match. The Bangladesh Women’s team will play Scotland at the same venue on January 23 (Sunday). They must win both of their remaining matches to finish first in the points table and earn a spot in the 2022 Commonwealth Games Women’s Cricket tournament.
Source: United News of Bangladesh