LAHORE: Responsible batting by Fargana Hoque and opener Murshida Khatun inspired Bangladesh to level the two-match One-day International women cricket series 1-1 as the tourists won the second tie by one wicket here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Monday.

It is the first victory for the visitors on the tour after they were whitewashed in the recently concluded three-match T20 International series.

Chasing an easy target of 211 in 50 overs, Bangladesh, after a shaky start, rode on two good partnerships and achieved the target for the loss of nine wickets with just one ball left.

First opener Murshida and Fargana plundered 82 runs off 108 balls to steady the innings which had taken a sluggish start after Sharmin Akhter (27, five fours) fell to pacer Diana Baig, and Nigar Sultana (0) was adjudged leg before wicket off Sana Mir.

But Fargana and Murshida built the innings taking the total to 111, before the latter was caught Pakistan by skipper Bismah Maroof of her own bowling after scoring a 67-ball 44, laced with six boundaries.

Murshida’s departure was followed by Rumana Ahmad’s fourth-wicket partnership which took the total to 166 in the 39th over.

Rumana went out first caught by Nahida off Nashra Sandhu for 31 off 43 balls before Fargana was dismissed by Aroob Shah after scoring 67 of 97 balls.

Pakistan pulled the match in their favour when three Bangladesh wickets fell in quick successions with the visitors dwindling at 196-8 but a mature cameo partnership by Jahanara (7) and Nahida (4) made sure Bangladesh were home.

Earlier, Pakistan made a flying start and were 157-3 at one stage and were expected to put up a difficult total for Bangladesh to chase but a batting collapse led the home team to a meagre total of 210 in 48.4 overs.

Opener Nahida Khan was Pakistan’s top scorer with 63 runs off 79 balls with Javeria Khan (24, three fours), provided an opening stand of 58 before Nahida, with Bismah (34, 53 balls, three fours) added another precious 53 runs for the second wicket.

Rumana Ahmad dismissed both Javeria and Nahida. However, captain Bismah and Aliya Riaz (36, three fours, 68 balls) added 46 runs for the fourth wicket as Pakistan sailed smoothly before the visiting bowlers excelled and forced Pakistan to 198-7.

Rumana grabbed 3-35 while Salma Khatun bagged 2-36.

Summarised scores:

PAKISTAN 210 in 48.4 overs (Nahida Khan 63, Bismah Maroof 34, Aliya Riaz 36; Rumana Ahmad 3-35, Salma Khatun 2-36); BANGLADESH 211-9 in 49.5 overs (Fargana Hoque 67, Murshida Khatun 44, Rumana Ahmed 31, Sharmin Akhter 20; Bismah Maroof 2-24, Areeba Shah 2-37).

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2019