Lahore: Bangladesh Women’s team commenced their ICC ODI World Cup Qualifiers campaign with an emphatic 178-run win over Thailand at the Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) ground in Lahore, India. Bangladesh achieved a formidable total of 271-3 in 50 overs, marking their highest ever score in Women’s One Day Internationals (WODI), surpassing their previous best of 252-4 against Ireland in Mirpur.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, this victory also stands as Bangladesh’s largest margin of victory in their history, overtaking their 154-run win against Ireland last year in Mirpur. Captain Nigar Sultana Joty played a pivotal role by scoring her maiden WODI century with a brisk 101 off just 80 balls, setting a new record as the fastest Bangladeshi batter to achieve this milestone. She broke the previous record held by Fargana Hoque Pinky, whose century came off 156 balls against India in 2023.
Joty’s performance also set a new record for most runs scored in boundaries for Bangladesh in WODIs, accumulating 66 runs in boundaries and surpassing Sharmin Akhter Supta’s previous record of 56. Additionally, the partnership between Joty and Sharmin Akhter was instrumental, as their 152-run stand is now the highest for the third wicket in Bangladesh’s WODI history, breaking the previous record of 127 runs set by Rumana Ahmed and Sharmin.
Thailand’s bowler Onnicha Kamchomphu had a challenging outing, conceding 58 runs in her nine overs, the most by a Thai bowler in WODIs. Bangladesh’s bowling attack was spearheaded by spinners Fahima Khatun and Janntul Ferdaus, who took five wickets each, marking the first instance of two bowlers from the same team achieving five-wicket hauls in WODIs.