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Bangladesh women register first-ever ODI win over India
Marufa Akter’s 4/29 helps the hosts beat India by 40 runs via DLS method in a rain-interrupted game in Mirpur
After Bangladesh won the final T20I of a three-match series against India on Thursday, captain Nigar Sultana had said that their victory would provide momentum going into the ODI series. She wasn’t wrong as the hosts beat India by 40 runs (DLS method) in the rain-interrupted first ODI in Mirpur on Sunday. This is Bangladesh’s first-ever win over India in this format.
Medium-pacer Marufa Akter claimed 4/29 to help Bangladesh restrict India to 113 in a run chase of 154 in a game that was curtailed to 44 overs per side. She generated movement and bowled with pace to get the better of the Indian batters. Leg-spinner Rabeya Khan also contributed with figures of 3/30.
In Bangladesh’s total of 152 after being sent in by India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Sultana played an integral role with a knock of 39. For India, medium-pacer Amanjot Kaur had a noteworthy debut as she claimed 4/31 in nine overs. Leg-spinner Devika Vaidya chipped in with two wickets.
The Bangladesh bowlers kept making regular breakthroughs to stay ahead in the contest, never allowing the Indians to stitch together a meaningful partnership. With openers Smriti Mandhana and Priya Punia dismissed early, India needed the pair of Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues to steer the chase. But Kaur, known to be a bit vulnerable against spin, was done in by left-arm spinner Nahida Akter on five runs.
Coming together at 61/5, Deepti Sharma and Amanjot provided them a glimmer of hope with a 30-run stand for the sixth wicket, but Akter struck off successive deliveries to snuff out India’s chances of victory. The final nail in the coffin for India was Deepti — she top-scored with 20 runs — being caught by Ritu Moni at midwicket off Rabeya’s bowling.
“We gave at least 20 runs extra. We bowled many loose balls and were not up to the mark,” Harmanpreet said after the match. “Obviously, in the batting department, nobody took responsibility. No, we are not weak against leg-spinners but they were really good. We need to focus on rotating the strike, we have done well in ODIs.”
While India’s batting has to improve considerably, they perhaps also missed the services of off-spinner Minnu Mani, who did well in the T20 series but isn’t part of the ODI team.
The second ODI of the three-match series will be played in Mirpur on Wednesday.
