Tigresses Crushed by Australia After Batter’s Failure

Sports Desk

The Tigers’ historic first ODI on Australian soil once again showed the old image of batsmen’s failures. Hosts Australia easily defeated the Bangladesh women’s team by 7 wickets in the first ODI of the three-match series at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane on Friday.

Bangladesh suffered a major setback early in the innings due to the devastating bowling of Megan Schutt. Despite losing their first two wickets in the second over, the visitors were eventually bundled out for 166 in 49.4 overs. In reply, Phoebe Litchfield scored a 57-ball 77 and Australia cruised to victory in just 25.4 overs with 146 balls in hand.

Shoot started the match with a new ball and started the match with a bang. She dismissed Farzana Haque with the first ball of the match. In the next over, she trapped Sharmin Sultana at leg-before, quickly losing two wickets for Bangladesh. With this pair of wickets, the experienced pacer became the third Australian woman bowler after Catherine Fitzpatrick and Ellyse Perry to reach the milestone of 150 wickets in ODIs.

Shute took 2 wickets for just 19 runs in her 10-over spell. On the other hand, Annabelle Sutherland single-handedly dismantled the lower order batsmen of the Bangladesh team, taking 4 wickets for 30 runs.

Bangladesh could not cope with the initial shock until the end. With the team on 33, Sharmin Akhter Supta was caught at square leg by Alana King off Sutherland. She showed some fight by playing a stormy innings of 24 runs off 26 balls with 5 fours.

However, it did not last. The pressure increased when Sovana Mostari departed for just 2 runs off 17 balls. From there, captain Nigar Sultana Jyoti and Swarna Akhtar tried to control the situation by adding 35 runs for the fifth wicket.

But trying to increase the run rate, Nigar left the field in the 28th over, scoring 29 runs off 86 balls, the team’s score was 83. Then, when Swarnao (21 off 50 balls) reached the pavilion with the team’s score at 103, Bangladesh were in danger of being all out.

Ritu Moni continued to fight alone towards the end. Her responsible innings of 45 runs off 63 balls took Bangladesh close to 50 overs. When she was run out in the 48th over, the visitors’ innings was finally over with two balls remaining.

Australia had no trouble in replying to 167. Although Georgia Ball was dismissed for 19 runs by 17-year-old debutant bowler Habiba Akhtar Islam Pinki, it could not stand in the way of victory.

After overcoming the initial setback, Litchfield quickly returned to form. He reached his half-century in just 35 balls, hit by four boundaries and sixes. The batsman put on an 89-run partnership with Perry for the second wicket. Finally, Litchfield, who was on 77, was caught by Rabeya Khan at the catch of Ritu Monir.

Perry remained unbeaten on 26 to lead the team to victory. Habiba took her second wicket by dismissing Beth Mooney (13) in the middle.

The two teams will face each other in the second ODI at the same ground next Sunday. The Tigers will aim to turn the series around by correcting their batting spell and weaknesses.