Bangladesh opened their Women’s Asia Cup campaign in emphatic fashion, crushing debutants Indonesia by 71 runs in the Group B encounter at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Monday (August 31). Shorna Akter came up with a quick-fire knock to lift Bangladesh to 129 for 8 before Marufa Akter and Nahida Akter did the bulk of the damage with the ball to bowl Indonesia out for 58.
Bangladesh recovered from a sluggish start to post in excess of 120. They were only 32 for one at the end of the Powerplay, with Indonesia’s bowlers building pressure through disciplined lines and a succession of dot balls. Juairiya Ferdous struck two early fours before falling for 8, while Dilara Akter laboured for her 27 off 31 balls before she was caught at deep midwicket off Ni Kadek Ariani. Sobhana Mostary made a composed 40 off 42, including two fours and a six, although Bangladesh struggled to find regular boundaries.
The innings gained momentum late, with Shorna Akter providing the impetus through an unbeaten 31 off 18 balls, including a six and three fours. She helped Bangladesh add 40 runs in the final five overs, but Indonesia kept picking up wickets. Ni Luh Dewi removed Mostary and Ritu Moni in successive deliveries in the 17th over, before Ni Kadek Ariani capped an impressive spell with two wickets in the final over, finishing with 3 for 28. Ariani’s closing over cost only three runs and included the wickets of Rabeya Khan and Nahida Akter as Bangladesh managed only 10 in the last two overs.
Indonesia struggled to build momentum in the chase and slipped to 39 for four after 10 overs. They lost Rahmawati Pangestuti for 9 in the third over, caught at mid-on off Marufa Akter, before Maria Corazon briefly provided some impetus with 12 off 13, the only double digit score in Indonesia’s innings. Corazon was trapped lbw by Marufa in the fifth over, leaving Indonesia 26 for two.
The innings stalled completely thereafter. Ni Putu Ayu Nanda Sakarini managed only 2 off 15 before Fahima Khatun trapped her lbw, while Ni Luh Dewi, who made 9 off 13, became Shanjida Akter Meghla’s first wicket as Indonesia reached the halfway mark needing 91 more runs. The slide continued as Nahida struck thrice in two overs to reduce the opposition to 53 for 8. She dismissed Ni Kadek Fitria Rada Rani lbw in the 12th over and followed up with the wickets of Ni Made Putri Suwandewi and Ni Kadek Ariani, while Sofia Velic was run out. Indonesia added only five more runs after that as they were bowled out in the 18th over.
Brief scores: Bangladesh 129/8 in 20 overs (Sobhana Mostary 40 off 42, Shorna Akter 31 off 18; Ni Kadek Ariani 3-28) beat Indonesia 58 in 17.3 overs (Maria Corazon 12; Nahida Akter 3-15, Marufa Akter 2-6) by 71 runs.
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