Bangladesh's first woman centurion Fargana Hoque Pinky could have become the country's first centurion in women's first-class cricket as well, but she was dismissed on 86 runs in North Zone's first innings against Central Zone on day one of the Women's Bangladesh Cricket League (WBCL) on Saturday. Later, Central Zone skipper Nigar Sultana Joty achieved the feat on day three to put her name in the record book. However, Pinky didn't miss the chance when she got the opportunity in the second innings, as she made an unbeaten 102 off 226 balls. The 31-year-old opener yesterday talked to The Daily Star's Samsul Arefin Khan regarding her hundred in the second innings, her comparison with Joty, and women's Test future as well. The excerpts from the interview are as follows:

The Daily Star (DS): You missed scoring a hundred in the first innings, but you compensated for it in the second innings. What was your plan today?

Farzana Haque Pinky (FHP): Actually, I have been following longer-version cricket for a long time. During the last two-day [Women's] BCL, I had an instinct to bat for a long time and also had the eagerness. This year, I had a belief that I would get the opportunity to bat at least for two days, as the tournament is being played as a three-day meet. I had a target of batting for a long time whenever I got the opportunity. I actually batted with the same plan and executed it in the middle. In the first innings, I couldn't play a good shot on the ball where I got dismissed. But in the second innings, I was able to score a hundred. 

DS: During a press conference in the recently concluded Ireland series, you mentioned your focus on batting for a long time during your practice sessions. Do you think that helped you a lot in playing longer-version matches?

FHP: Definitely. I always like to bat under pressure. Wherever I play, my teammates and coaching staff have kept their belief in me to score big innings. Personally, I also have that belief in myself. I always try to bat according to the merit of the ball... I have said before that I went to the academy (MASCO) where I get good practice facilities.

DS: When Joty scored a hundred, did you feel any regret at the time because she became the first first-class centurion for Bangladesh? Did you have extra motivation during your second innings?

FHP: I always say that we are closely compared in Bangladesh cricket. We follow each other's batting. Both of us want to play big innings. We always want to emulate each other's performance. The way she played today's innings, I thought of doing the same. I felt that I had an opportunity in the first innings, which I couldn't convert, but in the second innings, I knew I wouldn't miss the opportunity by any chance. If she would have scored a double hundred, I would definitely have tried to score a hundred... and remain not out as well. 

DS: You guys were under pressure as the opponents took a handsome lead in the first innings. What was the plan with Ishma Tanjim, with whom you had a big partnership later on?

FHP: The wicket was very good. There was some turn after the tea break, but overall, the ball was coming to the bat very nicely. Both of us like to bat straight and we planned to bat for five overs, then 10 overs, and so on... I think she batted better than me. She should have scored a ton before me. However, she couldn't hold her nerve until the end. 

DS: The tournament is arranged to expedite our Test debut. How important is the tournament for cricketers like you who are likely to represent us in the Test format in the coming days?

FHP: We can understand a lot of things while playing first-class matches... You can judge the skills and fitness of the players, and if you get at least two to three players from here, it will be helpful for our all-format teams.

I hope that the quality of the tournament will be maintained in the coming days as well. If they can do that, I think there is a possibility of creating a Test team by next year. I think our bowlers need to bowl really well as it's not easy to bowl in the same area for a long time. I think batting is easier than bowling in longer versions. I feel that, apart from one or two national team bowlers, not many players can bowl in good areas for a long time. I expect more bowlers to come up with better performances so that we can get three to five bowlers from this tournament.