Bangladesh batter Fargana Hoque Pinky lets out a loud cheer after reaching a historic maiden ODI hundred – a first for any Bangladeshi in the format in women’s cricket – during their series-deciding third match against India at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday. The thrilling match ended in a tie as the series was shared 1-1. Photo: Firoz Ahmed
Incredible scenes unfolded at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur yesterday as Bangladesh managed to tie the third and final ODI against India.
With India requiring just one run to win off four deliveries to go past Bangladesh’s 225, pacer Marufa Akter channeled her fiery determination to remove the final batter, Meghna Singh. Captain Nigar Sultana Joty safely gloved the ball and an ecstatic celebration ensued for the hosts.
Meanwhile, Singh and Jemimah Rodrigues, stranded at the non-striker’s end on 33, were clearly unhappy over the umpire’s decision.
Earlier, the visitors’ dissatisfaction over some of the umpiring decisions had reached the tipping point when India skipper, Harmanpreet Kaur, was given out leg-before.
A visibly furious Kaur had hit the stumps with the bat after getting out and exchanged a few angry words with the umpires on her return towards the dressing room.
Kaur could not hold her anger even during the post-match presentation ceremony. She lashed out on the standard of the umpiring, in a manner which came as a surprise to a rather small crowd in Mirpur.
The India captain was on a venting spree. “Lastly, our High Commissioner from India is also there and I hope you could have invited him here [at the presentation podium], but that is also fine,” she said.
Things went from bad to worse during the official photo session, where the two teams posed with the trophy. Kaur had blurted out, saying, “Where are the umpires? Call them.”
The India skipper even channeled her frustration towards her Bangladeshi counterpart, Nigar Sultana Joty. “You guys didn’t win, it’s the umpires,” Kaur said.
Going back to the chase, India were in a spot of bother on 32 for two but opener Smrity Mandhana (59) and Harleen Deol held the ship and almost took the game away from the home side, adding 107 runs for the third-wicket stand.
The match turned on its head, however, with two brilliant run-out dismissals, one of which involved Deol who scored a team-high 77, followed by three wickets in the span of five deliveries.
The visitors lost their last six wickets for 34 runs in what was a sensational turnaround from Bangladesh to draw the game and also the series — part of the ICC Women’s Championship — at 1-1.
Earlier, the home side justified their decision to bat first. The Tigresses posted their second-highest ODI total of 225 for four after Fargana Hoque Pinky became the first Bangladeshi woman to score a hundred in the fifty-over format.
Pinky along with Shamima Sultana added 93 runs for the opening wicket, laying the platform before the latter departed after scoring 52 off 78 balls.
Aided by Joty (24) and Sobhana Mostary (23 not out), Pinky kept ticking the scoreboard and made sure Bangladesh post a fighting total. Before getting run-out in the last ball of the innings, she struck seven boundaries to tally a magnificent 107 off 160 deliveries.
