Tigresses beat Pakistan by 9 runs

As it was promised, Bangladesh Women's team created a history, beating Pakistan by 9 runs, clinching their first victory in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup at Seddon Park, Hamilton in New Zealand on Monday.

The victory was exactly a reminiscence of the men's team triumph in their first World Cup appearance in 1999 in England, when they beat Pakistan to announce their arrival in the world cricket.

Bangladesh women's team took the same route to carve their own niche but the only difference was when men's team's win was one of the biggest World Cup upsets, the women's team almost beat Pakistan by announcing it to the rest of the world.

Ahead of this clash, Bangladesh won the three of last five encounters between the two teams. So there was a sense of belief in the Bangladeshi tent even though they lost the rain-hit warm-up game to Pakistan some days ago by 7 runs in D/L method.

But in the tournament proper, Bangladesh played like a red-hot favourite to beat the subcontinent rivals.

Fargana Hoque and Fahima Khatun were the architects of the epic victory, contributing handsomely in batting and bowling respectively.

While Fargana's impeccable 79, her second successive half-century in the tournament anchored Bangladesh's innings, Fahima claimed 3-38 with her wily leg-spin to scythe down the Pakistan batters. Their performance made Pakistan opener Sidra Ameen's classy 104-run knock a futile one.

Pakistan's decision to put Bangladesh in batting came as a blessing in disguise for the Tigress as batting second in Hamilton is always a favoured option for the team. But the Tigresses were in beast mood, racking up a respectable 234-7 before restricting Pakistan to 225-9.

Pakistan now remain without an ICC Women's Cricket World Cup victory in 13 years, while Bangladesh celebrated a major milestone in their development after an impressive all-round display.

Bangladesh made a decent start, with Shamima Sultana and Sharmin Akhter making 37-run for the opening stand. Shamima was the first to fall for 17, bringing Fargana to the crease.

They shared a 42-run partnership to keep the side driving but Sharmin was dismissed against the play after making 44 off 55 with six fours.

The dismissal inspired Pakistan to claw back into the game but their euphoria turned into despair when Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana came up with a spectacular counterattack, making the Pakistan bowlers disarray.

With Fargana playing with as usual unwavering resolve, Pakistan found it tough to make any impact.

The Bangladeshi duo took the Pakistan bowlers in disdain, sharing a match-winning 96-run partnership for the third wicket stand. Fatima Sana brought an end to the partnership, getting rid of Nigar for 46 and that triggered a sensational collapse as Bangladesh lost the rest of the seven wickets for 55 runs.

But Nigar-Fargana partnership kept Bangladesh aloft. Fargana clobbered five fours for his 71 off 115.

Pakistan made a promising start in reply, with Sidra and Nahida Khan at the top of the order. They reached 46 for no loss at the end of the powerplay and then brought up the 50 partnership in the 13th, an ICC press release said.

The breakthrough came in the 24th over, as Nahida chopped a Rumana delivery onto her own stumps for 43, ending a promising 91-run stand.

They reached the final 10 overs requiring 67 with eight wickets in hand and when they scored 11 off the 41st over, it looked like the game would go down to the wire.

But Sidra was soon running out of partners, as Omaima went for 10 and Nida Dar for a first-ball duck, while the 44th over proved a key turning point.

Fahima Khatun took two wickets in two balls to remove Aliya Riaz and Fatima Sana, before Sidra Nawaz was run out for just one to leave Pakistan on 188 for seven.

Sidra Amin brought up her maiden ODI century shortly after but was run out for 104 in the 48th and though Pakistan needed 16 to win off the last, they fell nine runs short.

Scores in brief

Bangladesh beat Pakistan at Seddon Park, Hamilton by nine runs

Bangladesh 234-7 in 50 overs (Fargana Hoque 71, Nigar Sultana 46, Sharmin Akhter 44; Nashra Sundhu 3-41)

Pakistan 225-9 in 50 overs (Sidra Ameen 104, Nahida Khan 43; Fahima Khatun 3-38, Rumana Ahmed 2-29)