Women cricketers Bangla-wash Zimbabwe

Bangladesh women cricket team humbled Zimbabwe by eight wickets in the 2nd 20-over match at Cox’s Bazar stadium today and wrapped up the series 2-0.

After crushing the visitors by 35 runs in the first match, it was another clinical performance from Jahanara Alam and her girls, as they won today’s match with 49 balls left in the bag.

Bangladesh skipper Jahanara won the toss and invited Chipo Mugeri to bat first. Zimbabwe batters couldn’t even get the ball off the square as Bangladeshi bowlers were allowed to dictate terms with unremitting dot balls from both ends.

Jahanara gave the first breakthrough in the third over when Zimbabwe opener Modester Mupachikwa’s misery was ended after 10 balls. Bangladesh captain claimed her second victim in the fifth over, and dismissed her counterpart after she scratched around for a single run from 10 balls.

After the end of the sixth over, Zimbabwe’s writing was on the wall…the scoreboard read six overs bowled, nine runs scored for the loss of three wickets.

Zimbabwe’s top-order batting performance read like a telephone number, 5-1-0-8-9 before Sharne Mayers decided to make her stand with Precious Marange at her side.

Sharne was the top-scorer for her side, and managed to score 21 runs from 21 balls while Marange had 16 from 18 balls to her name. Their sixth-wicket stand of 33 runs prevented an embarrassing collapse at Cox’s Bazar as far as their team was concerned.

Bangladeshi bowling unit was led by skipper Jahanara, who claimed three wickets for 11 runs in four overs. She was adjudged the player-of-the-match for her efforts.

She was superbly supported by Panna Ghosh and Salma Khatun. Both of them bowled four overs, conceded only nine runs in each of their spells. Panna captured a wicket as well.

With Bangladesh bowlers tightening the noose around Zimbabwe with disciplined spells from both ends, the visitors hobbled to 69 after 20 overs, and lost six wickets in the process.

With only a paltry total to chase, Bangladesh batters came out with a positive frame of mind and didn’t waste any time at the crease. Even though Sharmin Akhter was dismissed in the 2nd over, Ayasha Rahman and Shaila Sharmin removed all jitters with their crucial partnership.

When Ayasha departed for 28 runs from 31 balls (one 4s, two 6s) in the ninth over, Bangladesh were only nine runs away from the target.

Shaila was unbeaten on 23 from 26, and together with Rumana ensured their team reached home safe and sound.

Precious Marange and Christabel Chatonzwa captured a wicket each in their relatively economic spells. Zimbabwe bowlers didn’t have enough runs to defend but tried their level best to delay the inevitable as much as possible.

When Rumana struck the winning run, it was quite clear the gulf of difference in the two teams, especially in terms of talent and temperament.

Bangladesh was definitely the better team during the two matches in Zimbabwe’s short tour this year.