Pakistan Women Vs Bangladesh Women ODI Match Played at Southern Cricket Stadium Karachi on 4 October 2015

Pakistan Women 214 All Out ( Bismah Maroof 92 ,Nain Abidi 27, Nida Dar 21* , Javira Khan 21 , Salma Khatun 3/ 31) beat Bangladesh Women 194 All Out ( Rumana Ahmed 70 ,Farghana Haq 26, Samima Sultana 24, Jahanara Alam 23, Anam Amin 3/25 ) by 20 Runs.

Pakistani ladies riding on a brilliant aggressive innings of talented left handed batswoman Bismah Maroof won the first ODI against Bangladeshi eves by 20 runs.

The series is an ice breaker. The first ever women’s cricket ODI between host Pakistan and tourist Bangladesh was a trend setter on many account. International teams decline visiting Pakistan for security reasons. Even BCB decision of sending its eves to play in Pakistan is still being debated. But three matches held so far (two T20s and first ODI) created great enthusiasm and excellent cricket. It does not auger well that an ICC full member country suffers from continued draught of international cricket .Hope cricket works as harbinger of lasting peace in that troubled country.

The score board would evidence that on a slow turning wicket it was only two batswoman on either side Bismah and Rumana who acting as backbone could handle the situation efficiently. Few others on either side made start and could not keep going .Ultimately Bismah triumphed through late flourish kicking on from 45 th over of the match to take the score beyond the reach of Bangladesh fragile batting side. Rumana looked tired and lacked strength at the latter part of her innings to counter punch and lead her team across the rope which at one stage looked probable.

Pakistan won the toss and electing to bat encountered a very disciplined all round bowling attack of Bangla tigress unit. Salma kept rotating his bowling options and set very aggressive fields throughout restricting home side to 6/140 till the 39 th over .None but Bismah looked at all comfortable against pace spin combination of Bangladesh bowling. Talented Misbah showed his class in unleashing at the last stage of his batting transforming what was heading to a below par score to a challenging score before  the team got all out with a ball to spare .Bismah Maroof scored 92 off 128 balls to propel Pakistan to 214 .His top quality innings included 8 brilliant strikes across the fence. Captain Salma bowled intelligently taking 3/31 in her 10 over spell. Bangladeshi girls leaked 74 precious runs in the last 10 overs.

It was a hot humid day taking lots of energy of Bangladeshi girls. Yet they batted reasonably well. After the loss of the openers Sharmin and Shamima in reaching 32 Lata and Farghana were resurrecting the innings well. But they left in quick succession after putting on 34 in the third wicket partnership. From then on Rumana carried the team on her shoulder fighting almost single handed .At one stage when Ritu got out at 141 in the 39 th over Bangladesh was very much in the game .None but Jahanara could give Rumana the required support. Sana kept rotating her bowling options. At the last stage Rumana even looked tired and lost the punch of her strokes. She got out scoring 70 well-made runs. Bangladesh got bundled out at 194 runs 21 short of victory.

This writer watched every ball on PTV live. Bangladesh team bowled equally well and fielded better than Pakistan. But batting needs a fresh look .The range of strokes are very limited and batsmen lack skills of playing the balls in the gaps and rotating the strokes. All these come from experience. We can say the team will only improve
with more international experience and playing against stronger teams.

We have seen some debates about Bangladesh Captain Salma uttering few Urdu words in one of her TV interview .We have heard and seen all her interviews alongside team Manager Shafiqul Haq Heera. We do not think it is a huge mistake.  We are all patriotic and have great love for Bangla our mother tongue. But at times we pretend to be  too parochial. Salma should be excused for uttering two to three Urdu words in her interview.

BDST: 1022 HRS, OCT 5, 2015
AKA