Nahida, Shorna shine as Bangladesh knock Pakistan out

Nahida Akter and Shorna Akter scripted Bangladesh's remarkable 23-run victory at The Rose Bowl in Southampton and knocked Pakistan out of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup. The two players essayed crucial roles in the second half of both innings. Shorna scored an unbeaten 39 off 22, lifting Bangladesh from 48 for 4 to 123 for 6, and Pakistan's 49 for 0 became 86 for 8 by the time Nahida finished her spell of 3 for 18. Shanjida Akter Meghla also played a key part, bagging three wickets.

Pakistan were eventually restricted to 100 for 8, slipping to their third loss in as many outings. Bangladesh, meanwhile, boosted their semifinal hopes as they moved up to the third spot with two wins in three games, achieving two victories in a single edition of the T20 World Cup for the first time since the 2014 tournament.

Opting to bat, Bangladesh were in early trouble, losing their top three inside the first five overs. Fatima Sana delivered a double in the second over, getting Dilara Akter to miscue a heave and trapping Sharmin Akhter lbw. Juairiya Ferdous also fell attempting a heave, giving Tasmia Rubab a wicket as Bangladesh slipped to 13 for 3. It was slow going for Bangladesh with only two fours coming for them in the Powerplay as they moved to 23 for 3.

Nigar Sultana and Sobhana Mostary tried to up the ante with a few boundaries but the No. 5 fell soon enough, dismissed by Nashra Sandhu for a 19-ball 22 as Bangladesh were struggling at 48 for 4 at the halfway stage. Pakistan continued to squeeze Bangladesh with tight overs before skipper Sultana, who was on 17 off 24, struck two successive fours off Tuba Hassan.

Ritu Moni fell after a struggling 7 off 16 but Sultana continued the charge and was supported by Shorna. Sadia Iqbal ended Sultana's stay on 36 off 38, but Bangladesh managed to finish with a flurry of boundaries, thanks to Shorna's blazing knock in the death overs, which included five fours - all coming in the last four overs.

The Pakistan openers began well in the chase, with Gull Feroza striking a couple of boundaries in the first two overs while Muneeba Ali hit the first six of the match. Muneeba, was otherwise sedate, ending the Powerplay with 16 off 21 while Feroza raced to 22 off 15, adding two more fours off Rabeya Khan as Pakistan moved to 41 for 0 after six overs.

The opening stand, worth 49 runs, ended in the eighth over when Nahida had Feroza play a cut shot straight to point. She also picked up a wicket in her second over, getting Muneeba caught in the deep while attempting a pull, as Pakistan ended the 10th over at 64 for 2, having lost two key wickets. It became 70 for 4 in the 12th over after Shanjida dismissed Ayesha Zafar lbw and had Aliya Riaz bowled, leaving Pakistan in more trouble.

The equation was 53 off 48 balls and it became 48 off 30 as Bangladesh added pressure with some tight overs. Rabeya also picked up the wicket of Iram Javed, reducing Pakistan to 76 for 5, and then 77 for 6 when Shanjida sent Saira Jabeen back for a duck. There was no late counterattack from Pakistan, unlike the Bangladesh innings, as Tuba got out to Ritu while Nahida came back for her final over and added the scalp of captain Sana to her wickets tally. Pakistan needed 30 in the final over and fell well short.

Brief scores: Bangladesh 123/6 in 20 overs (Shorna Akter 39* off 22, Nigar Sultana 36 off 38; Fatima Sana 2-18) beat Pakistan 100/8 in 20 overs (Muneeba Ali 25 off 30, Gull Feroza 23 off 18; Nahida Akter 3-18, Shanjida Akter Meghla 3-21) by 23 runs.