Tigresses draw ODI series with thrilling tie
Fargana’s maiden ton guide thrilling tie against India
BD-India: Fargana’s maiden ton guide thrilling tie
On July 22nd, the Tigresses gave an impressive performance at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. This led to a tie in the series after the third and final match, which ultimately became the deciding game.
The hosts won the rain-hit first game by 40 runs before India clawed back to level the series with a massive 108-run victory in the second game. India easily won the series-deciding game after Bangladesh put up 225-4, thanks to Fargana Hoque Pinky, who hit 107 and became the first.
The first female Bangladeshi player to score a century in international cricket achieved the feat. The visiting team lost six wickets for just 36 runs and were eventually all out for 225 in 49.3 overs, giving India an upper hand. Since there was no super over, the match ended in a draw, and the series was divided. Harleen Deol led the Indian team with a score of 77, while Smriti Mandhana contributed 59 runs.
Harleen was named the match’s most valuable player, while Fargana was honoured as the series’ most valuable player. Fargana and her opening companion Shamima Sultana justified captain Nigar Sultana Joty’s decision to bat first with a 93-run opening stand, with Shamima Sultana scoring 52 runs before Sneh Rana caught her.
In the cricket match, Sneh Rana took 2-45 and also dismissed Joty who scored 24 runs. Fargana achieved her century on 156 deliveries with seven boundaries, but unfortunately, she was run out with 107 on the final ball of her innings. Sobhana Mostary was not out and had scored 23 runs. Fargana surpassed Rumana Akter and Salma Khatun’s record of runs to become the leading run-scorer of Bangladesh. In the second over of India’s innings, Marufa Akter, a pace phenomenon, dismissed Shafali Verma with a return catch. Sultana Khatun further compounded India’s predicament by ignoring Yastika.
Bhatia looked visibly unsatisfied with her leg-before decision as she indicated the ball might go down the leg side. With India at 32-2, Smriti Mandhana and Harleen Deol brought the side back
into contention with a 107-run partnership. Fahima Khatun broke through with the wicket of Mandhana after she made 59 off
85 with five fours. Nahida Akter further gave Bangladesh the edge when Fahima caught Harmanpreet Kaur, but the batter was displeased as she suggested the bat didn’t connect the ball. She, however, reacted with venom by breaking the stump.
The rain intervened with India at an advantageous 173-4, with Harleen playing astutely. The rain break seemed a mental distraction for the Indian batters as they started losing wickets regularly. The rot began with Harleen after she was trapped run out. Jemimah Rodrigues kept one end with utmost confidence to take the game deep, but Bangladesh bowlers kept striking regularly.
India went into the last over with just three needing to win, but they had one wicket at hand. No.11 batter Meghna Singh who hit a boundary in the penultimate over, came to strike after Jemimah took a single to level the
score. But Meghna edged a moving delivery of Marufa behind the wicket as Bangladesh avoided defeat. Jemimah was left stranded with 33. Nahida Akter was the most successful bowler for Bangladesh with 3-37, while Marufa snapped up 2-55.