Women's Asia Cup

Salma leads historic win




Captain Salma Khatun led Bangladesh from the front to a memorable victory over Pakistan by four wickets in the Women's Asia Cup at the Welegedara Stadium in Kurunegala yesterday.





Right-handed batswoman Salma struck six boundaries in her 92-ball unbeaten knock of 53 to carry her side to the victory in 45.3 overs after her brilliant 10-over spell helped skittle out Pakistan for a paltry 134 in 47.4 overs.

A PROMISE FULFILLED: Bangladesh women cricketers

converge to celebrate the fall of another Pakistan

wicket during their second Asia Cup match at the

Welegedara Stadium in Kurunegala yesterday.

Bangladesh defeated Pakistan by four wickets.

After their mediocre performance in the opening game against India on Friday, the women's cricket team styled a remarkable turnaround and registered their maiden win over an established side although the game was not considered an official one-day international. The victory was also just what the team had aimed for before they left Dhaka for the tournament. Interestingly, Pakistan were also the first reputable team that the men's team defeated in the 1999 World Cup.





Back to the match and Bangladesh lost three wickets by the twelfth over during their chase but that did not fluster captain Salma who immediately added 37 runs for the fourth wicket with all-rounder Panna Ghosh, who scored 14 off 51 balls with the help of two boundaries.





Salma then added 25 with Chamely Khatun for the fifth wicket, 24 with Rumana Ahmed for the sixth and a decisive 24 for the unbroken seventh wicket with wicketkeeper-batswoman Irin Sultan, who was unbeaten on 5 off 16 balls. It was a refreshing change after their batting debacle against India, when they were all out for only 68 runs. But yesterday, they batted steadily and can take a lot from this victory.





Earlier, Salma was the most economical bowler giving away only 18 runs in 10 overs and she also picked up two wickets, one of which was the opening wicket of Tasqeen Qadeer in the eighth over.





Off-spinner Tithy Sarkar took over from Salma and removed Bismah Maroof, opposing captain Urooj Mumtaz, Batool Fatima and lastly Sana Mir in her 9.4 overs, which yielded only 25 runs for her four-wicket haul.





Shathira Jakir took two wickets for 34 while Rumana Ahmed took 1-24 in 10 overs.





Bismah top-scored with 29 off 53 balls with the help of five boundaries and her opening partnership of 27 with Tasqeen was the highest for the innings. Sajida Shah and Sana scored 25 each and Asmavia Iqbal's 12 was all the Pakistanis could muster.





In the other match of the day in Dambulla, Mithali Raj followed up her unbeaten century on Friday with a half-century as India continued their winning ways at the Asia Cup with a 30-run victory over Sri Lanka.





The Bangladeshi women now move to Dambulla to play their third match against hosts Sri Lanka and then have a return fixture against India on May 6.





SCORES IN BRIEFPAKISTAN: 134 all out in 47.4 overs (Tasqeen 8, Bismah 29, Urooj 2, Sajida 25, Batool 6, Sana 25, Shumaila 6, Almas 2, Asmavia 12, Qanita 1, Sadia 0*; Panna 0-15, Shamima 0-12, Salma 2-18, Tithy 4-25, Rumana 1-24, Shathira 2-34).BANGLADESH: 136-6 in 45.3 overs (Shathira 12, Shuktara 2, Ayesha 4, Panna 14, Salma 53*, Chamely 15, Rumana 7, Irin 5*; Asmavia 0-11, Qanita 1-12, Almas 1-30, Sajida 2-19, Sadia 0-21, Sana 1-30, Urooj 1-10).Result: Bangladesh won by four wickets.